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Published on: May 26, 2019
Redefining N-Bromosuccinimide: Chemistry Beyond Allylic Bromination
Pooja1, Trisha Ghatak2, Ankita1
1Department of Chemistry, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
Chemistry, an Asian Journal
|July 21, 2026
Summary
N-bromoamides, particularly N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), offer safer and more versatile alternatives to molecular bromine for various organic reactions. This review highlights NBS
Area of Science:
- Organic Chemistry
- Synthetic Chemistry
Background:
- Molecular bromine presents challenges in chemical synthesis due to its instability and toxicity.
- N-bromoamides have emerged as safer and more convenient brominating agents.
- N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) is a widely utilized N-bromoamide in laboratory settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the diverse applications of N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in organic chemistry.
- To showcase NBS' versatility beyond its role as a brominating agent.
- To highlight NBS' utility in facilitating various chemical transformations.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) applications in organic synthesis.
- Analysis of NBS' role in reactions including rearrangements, hydrolysis, and catalysis.
- Examination of NBS' utility in stereoselective synthesis and one-pot reactions.
Main Results:
- NBS is effective in allylic/benzylic bromination and electrophilic bromination.
- NBS facilitates a wide array of reactions such as rearrangements, hydrolysis, multicomponent reactions, and C─C bond cleavage.
- NBS demonstrates utility in stereoselective synthesis, oxidation, catalysis, aromatization, and one-pot tandem reactions.
Conclusions:
- N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) is a highly versatile reagent in organic chemistry.
- NBS offers significant advantages over molecular bromine for numerous synthetic transformations.
- The applications of NBS extend far beyond simple bromination, underscoring its importance in modern synthesis.
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