Benzyl bromide, is a benzene ring by bromomethyl bromide substituted aromatic compounds, chemical formula C7H7Br, in the presence of oxidizer it is obtained from toluene and bromine reaction, it is a kind of benzyl halide irritation compounds.
Although dangerous and toxic to some extent, benzyl bromide is also an important industrial raw material for organic synthesis: it is widely used in the manufacture of foaming agents and as a foam agent and yeast preservative.
Benzyl bromide was used as chemical weapons in the first world war, because it has strong function and uncomfortable tear pungent smell, can produce stimulation to the respiratory tract, damage skin and cause dermatitis and urticaria, sticky eyes and inhalation of high concentration of benzyl bromide steam can even cause temporary chest tight beam, bronchitis and pulmonary edema.
The greatest use of benzyl bromide is as a benzylization reagent of heteroatomic functional groups. It can effectively benzylize various heteroatomic functional groups under various conditions, and thus has a wide range of applications in organic synthesis.