Cupric bromide

Chemical properties

Black crystal

The Uses of Cupric bromide

As intensifier in photography; as brominating agent in organic synthesis; as humidity indicator; as wood preservative; in solid-electrolyte battery; as stabilizer for acetylated polyformaldehyde.

The Uses of Cupric bromide

Copper(II) bromide is used in photographic processing as an intensifier and as a brominating agent in organic synthesis. It is also used in the coupling of o-iodophenols and aryl acetylenes avoiding the use of palladium. It finds application in the preparation of NK1/NK2 receptor antagonists used in the regulation of tachykinin.

The Uses of Cupric bromide

Some reported applications of cupric bromide are:

• catalyst in cross coupling reactions.

• co-catalyst in Sonogashira coupling.

• Lewis acid in enantioselective addition of alkynes.

• reducing agent, when complexed by three molecules of pyridine initiators for the controlled polymerization of styrene, methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate.

Reductive homocoupling of α-bromo- α- chlorocarboxylates to dimethyl α, α′ dichlorosuccinate derivatives in presence of CuBr/LiOCH₃ in methanol has been reported.

General Description

Odorless black solid. Sinks and mixes with water.

Air & Water Reactions

Deliquescent. Water soluble.

Reactivity Profile

Acidic inorganic salts, such as Cupric bromide, are generally soluble in water. The resulting solutions contain moderate concentrations of hydrogen ions and have pH's of less than 7.0. They react as acids to neutralize bases. These neutralizations generate heat, but less or far less than is generated by neutralization of inorganic acids, inorganic oxoacids, and carboxylic acid. They usually do not react as either oxidizing agents or reducing agents but such behavior is not impossible. Many of these compounds catalyze organic reactions.

Health Hazard

Inhalation of dust causes irritation of throat and lungs. Ingestion of large amounts causes violent vomiting and purging, intense pain, collapse, coma, convulsions, and paralysis. Contact with solutions causes eye irritation; contact with solid causes severe eye surface injury and skin irritation.

Fire Hazard

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Irritating hydrogen bromide gas may form in fire.

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Synthesis

Copper(II) bromide can be obtained by combining copper oxide and hydrobromic acid:

CuO + 2HBr → CuBr2 + H2O.

Purification Methods

Crystallise it twice by dissolving it in water (140mL/g), filtering to remove any Cu2Br2, and concentrating under vacuum at 30o until crystals appear. The cupric bromide is then allowed to crystallise by leaving the solution in a vacuum desiccator containing P2O5 [Hope et al. J Chem Soc 5226 1960, Glemser & Sauer in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol II p 1009 1965].