1-Bromo-4-propylbenzene

106-37-6

106-94-5

588-93-2

General procedure: 236 g of 1,4-dibromobenzene, 185 g of bromopropane and 1 liter of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran were added to a 2-liter three-neck flask under nitrogen protection. Subsequently, 204 g of zinc chloride, 36 g of magnesium powder and 18 g of iron acetylacetonate were added as catalyst. The reaction mixture was heated to about 40°C under stirring conditions and the reaction started immediately. The reaction temperature was maintained at no more than 60°C for 8 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the mixture was cooled to room temperature and the reaction was quenched by the addition of 200 ml of water. The tetrahydrofuran solvent was recovered by distillation and the residue was diluted with 500 mL of toluene. The toluene layer was separated, washed twice sequentially with 200 mL of saturated brine and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The dried solution was filtered and the filtrate recovered toluene by distillation. Finally, the 94-97 °C/10 mmHg fraction was collected by vacuum distillation to give 170 g of 4-propylbromobenzene in 85% yield.