Vinylbromid

Vinylbromid, also known as vinyl bromide or ethenyl bromide, is a vinyl halide with the chemical formula CH2=CHBr. It is a simple bromo-substituted alkene in which a bromine atom is attached to one of the vinyl carbons. The compound is used as an intermediate in organic synthesis and as a monomer or co-monomer for specialty polymers and brominated building blocks.

Chemically, vinyl bromide consists of a vinyl group (CH2=CH-) bearing a bromine substituent. This structure makes the molecule highly reactive: it participates in radical and ionic additions to the double bond, hydrohalogenation, and cross-coupling reactions that install bromovinyl groups into larger molecules. Its reactivity also makes it a candidate for polymerization, so handling often requires stabilizers or inhibitors to prevent uncontrolled polymerization.

Production and handling of vinyl bromide are typically limited to controlled, industrial settings. It can be generated from brominated ethene precursors or via selective bromination of acetylene-derived intermediates, followed by purification. In practice, it is handled as a volatile organic compound under strict safety protocols to minimize exposure and to control reactivity. Storage and transport emphasize containment, compatibility with chosen stabilizers, and avoidance of heat, light, and strong oxidizers.

Applications of vinyl bromide center on its role as a versatile starting material. It is used to introduce bromovinyl functionality into organic molecules and to prepare brominated polymers or monomers for subsequent transformations in pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and materials chemistry.

Safety considerations include its irritant and potentially toxic nature. Proper engineering controls, personal protective equipment, and ventilation are essential when handling vinyl bromide, and storage typically incorporates measures to suppress unwanted polymerization.