Water-promoted ortho-selective monohydroxymethylation of phenols in the NaBO2 system was written by Li, Hui-Jing;Wu, Ying-Ying;Wu, Qin-Xi;Wang, Rui;Dai, Chun-Yang;Shen, Zhi-Lun;Xie, Cheng-Long;Wu, Yan-Chao. And the article was included in Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry in 2014.Electric Literature of C7H7BrO2 This article mentions the following:
Water-promoted ortho-selective monohydroxymethylation of phenols in the NaBO2 system generates salicyl alcs. in 65-97% yields. A remarkable rate-enhancement by water was observed, and NaBO2 appeared to serve the dual role of a suitable base and an efficient chelating reagent. This protocol possesses many advantages such as short reaction times, expanded substrate scope, and high mono- and regio-selectivities. The exptl. results were explained by the calculations based on local ionization energy min., leading to a possible reaction mechanism. In the experiment, the researchers used many compounds, for example, 5-Bromo-2-(hydroxymethyl)phenol (cas: 170434-11-4Electric Literature of C7H7BrO2).
5-Bromo-2-(hydroxymethyl)phenol (cas: 170434-11-4) belongs to organobromine compounds. Bromine is more electronegative than carbon (2.9 vs 2.5). Consequently, the carbon in a carbon–bromine bond is electrophilic, i.e. alkyl bromides are alkylating agents. In the pharmaceutical industry organo bromine derivatives are used as sedatives, vasodilators, antiseptic agents, and anticancer agents.Electric Literature of C7H7BrO2
Referemce:
Bromide – Wikipedia,
bromide – Wiktionary