558-13-4

A colorless crystalline solid. Much more dense than water and insoluble in water. Toxic by ingestion. Vapors are narcotic in high concentration. Used to make other chemicals.

CARBON TETRABROMIDE(558-13-4) is incompatible with the following: Strong oxidizers, hexacyclohexyldilead, lithium .

Insoluble in water.

A poison; narcotic in high concentration. Liver damage, eye, skin, and upper respiratory tract irritant.

Highly toxic, may be fatal if inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through skin. Avoid any skin contact. Effects of contact or inhalation may be delayed. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may be corrosive and/or toxic and cause pollution.

CBr4 is used in organic synthesis.

Non-combustible, substance itself does not burn but may decompose upon heating to produce corrosive and/or toxic fumes. Containers may explode when heated. Runoff may pollute waterways.

If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit. Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. As first aid for pulmonary edema, a doctor or authorized paramedic may consider administering a drug or other inhalation therapy.

UN2516 Carbon tetrabromide, Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials.

Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides, lithium and hexacyclohexyldiilead, since violent reactions may occur.

Carbon tetrabromide is considered a highly toxic chemical, may be fatal if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through skin. It is metabolized in vitro to produce carbon monoxide but the in vivo significance has not been established. Under anaerobic reducing conditions it forms complexes with ferrous cytochrome P450. Carbon monoxide is detected as a metabolic product of the interaction. Carbon tetrabromide’s production and use in organic syntheses may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams. Carbon tetrabromide has been isolated from red algae, Asparagopsis toxiformis, found in the ocean near Hawaii. It was detected in water from treated chlorinated seawater used for drinking at oil platforms. Occupational exposure to carbon tetrabromide may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where it is produced or used. The general population may be exposed to carbon tetrabromide via ingestion of drinking water. Acute exposures to high concentrations may cause upper respiratory tract irritation and injury to lungs, liver (hepatotoxicity) and kidneys (nephrotoxicity). Chronic exposure effects at very low levels will be almost entirely limited to liver injury. It is a potent lachrymator even at low exposure concentrations. Although carbon tetrabromide may release bromine ions during metabolism, clinical bromism is not expected to occur.

Carbon tetrabromide, is a colorless powder, white crystalline solid, or yellow-brown crystals. Slight odor

Crystalline colorless

Purify by distillation and return to suppliers.

Carbon tetrabromide (CBr4) is a multifunctional chemical reagent widely used in chemical and pharmaceutical industries. It mainly includes:
(1) As a thiophilic reagent, it promotes the one-pot oxidative condensation of amines with N,N'-disubstituted thioureas to give a variety of guanidine derivatives^[1].
(2) As a bromine radical precursor, used in the electrochemical radical bromination and cyclisation sequence of enoic acid to prepare bromomethylated γ-lactone derivatives^[2].
(3) As a precursor of hydrogen atom transfer reagent, used to generate aromatic carbonyl compounds^[3].
(4) As raw materials or intermediates for organic synthesis. Synthesis of N-sulfonylformamidine from CBr4 and formamide under UVA irradiation. Activated imine intermediates (Vilsmeier-Haack reagent derivatives) were obtained via a photoinduced reaction between CBr4 and formamide^[4].

ChEBI: A one-carbon compound substituted by 4 bromo groups.

Carbon tetrabromide inhibits protein synthesis and causes lipid peroxidation, both of which may be involved in cell injury or death mediated by free radicals.

Color Code—Green: General storage may be used.Prior to working with carbon tetrabromide you should betrained on its proper handling and storage. Store in tightlyclosed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away fromoxidizers and other incompatible materials listed above.

Reactive bromide is removed from CBr4 by refluxing with dilute aqueous Na2CO3, then steam distilling, crystallising from EtOH, and drying in the dark under vacuum. [Sharpe & Walker J Chem Soc 157 1962.] It can be sublimed at 70o and low pressure. [Beilstein 1 IV 85.]

Carbon tetrabromide is a colorless nonflammable solid at room temperature. It is insoluble in water, but soluble in several organic solvents such as alcohol, ether, and chloroform. Its specific gravity is 3.42, melting point is 90°C, boiling point is 189°C, and vapor pressure is 0.72 torr at 25°C. Production and use of carbon tetrabromide may result in its release in the environment through various hazardous waste streams. Carbon tetrabromide is expected to have very high mobility in soil and volatilizes slowly from dry soil surface. Its biodegradation is expected to be slow and to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. It is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment in the water column. Its potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is moderate.

[1] B. YADAV; S. K S; N Srivastava. Carbon Tetrabromide-Mediated Guanylation of Amines with N,N′-Disubstituted Thioureas: An Easy Access to Guanidines[J]. Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2024. DOI:10.1134/S1070428023100093.
[2] KYEONG SEOP KIM;Dae Y K. Electrochemical bromolactonization of alkenoic acids with carbon tetrabromide: Synthesis of bromomethylated γ-lactones[J]. Accounts of Chemical Research, 2022. DOI:10.1080/00397911.2022.2028843.
[3] CHUNBO BO. Visible-Light-Initiated Air-Oxygenation of Alkylarenes to Carbonyls Mediated by Carbon Tetrabromide in Water[J]. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2023. DOI:10.1002/cssc.202301015.
[4] QUENTIN CHEVRIER, LéO BETTONI*; Synthesis of N-Sulfonyl Formamidines by Direct Condensation between Sulfonamide and Formamide Enabled by a Photogenerated Vilsmeier-Type Reagent[J]. ACS Applied Electronic Materials, 2024. DOI:10.1021/acs.joc.4c0216010.1021/acs.joc.4c02160.