Patent ID: 6133468
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: C07B,C07C

Abstract:
A process for preparing substituted benzyl bromides of the formula I ##STR12## where at least one substituent R.sup.1-5 is an electron-attracting group comprising fluorine, chlorine, bromine, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxycarbonyl, cyano or nitro, and the other substituents R.sup.1-5 are hydrogen or methyl, by bromination of substituted toluenes of the formula II ##STR13## with a brominating agent selected from the group consisting of: bromine, bromine salts and hydrogen bromide, optionally in the form of its aqueous solution, at from 20 to 95.degree. C., wherein the bromination is carried out in the presence of an azo carbonitrile or of an azo carboxylic ester and in the presence of an oxidizing agent.