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Carbonyl bromide, also known as bromophosgene, is an organic chemical compound with the chemical formula COBr2. It is a colorless liquid. It is a bromine analogue of phosgene. It is a carbon oxohalide. Carbonyl bromide is a decomposition product of halon compounds used in fire extinguishers.[2]

Synthesis and reactions

Carbonyl bromide is formed by the oxidation carbon tetrabromide with sulfuric acid:

CBr4 + H2SO4 → COBr2 + SO2 + Br2 + H2O

In contrast to phosgene, carbonyl bromide cannot be produced efficiently by halogenation of carbon monoxide. The bromination of carbon monoxide follows this equation:

CO + Br2 ⇌ COBr2

But the process is slow at room temperature. Increasing temperature, in order to increase the reaction rate, results in a further shift of the chemical equilibrium towards the educts (since ΔRH < 0 and ΔRS < 0).[3][4][clarification needed]

Carbonyl bromide slowly decomposes to carbon monoxide and elemental bromine even at low temperatures.[5] It is also sensitive to hydrolysis, breaking down into hydrogen bromide, water and carbon dioxide.

References

  1. ^ Lide, David R. (1998), Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (87 ed.), Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, pp. 3–96, 4–50, 5–26, ISBN 0-8493-0594-2
  2. ^ US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (May 1996). "Common Fire Extinguishing Agents". Archived from the original on 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
  3. ^ T.A. Ryan; E.A. Seddon; K.R. Seddon; C. Ryan (24 May 1996). Phosgene: And Related Carbonyl Halides. pp. 669–671. ISBN 9780080538808. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  4. ^ Parkington, Michael J.; Ryan, T. Anthony; Seddon, Kenneth R. (1997). "Carbonyl dibromide: A novel reagent for the synthesis of metal bromides and bromide oxides". Journal of the Chemical Society, Dalton Transactions (2): 257–262. doi:10.1039/A603977D.
  5. ^ Katrizsky, Alan R.; Meth-Cohn, Otto; Wees, Charles W. (1995), Organic Functional Group Transformations, vol. 6, Elsevier, pp. 417–8, ISBN 978-0-08-042704-1, retrieved 2009-11-23
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