Hydrogen Bromide - Uses of HBr

Uses of HBr

There are many uses of HBr in chemical synthesis. For example, HBr is used for the production of alkyl bromides from alcohols:

ROH + HBr → RBr + H₂O

HBr adds to alkenes to give bromoalkanes, an important family of organobromine compounds:

RCH=CH₂ + HBr → RCH(Br)–CH₃

HBr adds to alkynes to yield bromoalkenes. The stereochemistry of this type of addition is usually anti:

RC≡CH + HBr → RC(Br)=CH₂

HBr adds to the haloalkene to form a geminal dihaloalkane. (This type of addition follows Markovnikov's rule):

RC(Br)=CH₂ + HBr → RC(Br₂)–CH₃

Also, HBr is used to open epoxides and lactones and in the synthesis of bromoacetals. Additionally, HBr catalyzes many organic reactions.

HBr has been proposed for use in a utility-scale flow-type battery.