15 Phosphorous Tribromide Uses: Facts You Should Know

Phosphorous tribromide with formula PBr₃ has a penetrating odor. It is prepared by reacting bromine with red phosphorous. Let us study various uses of phosphorus tribromide.

The different uses of Phosphorous Tribromide are discussed herewith.

• Laboratory
• Industry
• Chemistry

Let us study various application of phosphorous tribromide at different range of sectors in brief in this article.

Laboratory

• During the synthesis of primary or secondary ethanols, PBr₃ converts the ethanols into alkyl bromides.
• Phosphorous tribromide synthesizes1,2-azaphosphole and ,2,3-thiazaphosphinine, bearing a chromone ring.
• PBr₃ as a reagent in chemical synthesis and analysis.
• Phosphorous tribromide synthesizes 1-Bromoundec-1-ene from 10-undecen-1-ol.
• On reacting PBr₃ with water it produces hydrobromic acid (HBr) and phosphorous acid (H₃PO₃) which has different applications in the field of industry.
• The reaction of phosphorous tribromide with the present moisture in the air yields phosphonic acid which has different miscellaneous applications.

Chemistry

• As a catalyst, PBr₃ is used during the α-bromination of carboxylic acids.
• Phosphorous tribromide is a strong fire suppression agent sold under the brand name PhostrEx.
• As a novel protocol, phosphorous tribromide utilized to synthesize 7-ethoxy-1-(p-ethylphenoxy)-3,7-dimethyl-2-octene.
• PBr₃ is mainly used in organic chemistry as a brominating agent.
• Reaction of phosphorus tribromide with carboxylic acid converts it into acid bromides which has different miscellaneous uses.
• In the Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky halogenation process, PBr₃ serve as catalyst.
• Phosphorus tribromide is utilized as an acceptor and is characterized structurally when reacted with a base/donor.

Industry

• PBr₃ is used in the production of pharmaceuticals such as fenoprofen, methohexital and alprazolam.
• Phosphorus tribromide is utilized in semiconductor manufacturing.
• PBr₃ is used in the manufacturing of simple olefines which yields β-bromoalkylphosphonous dibromides, useful as intermediates which synthesis heterocyclic compounds containing phosphorus and phosphorus mustards.

Conclusion

Phosphorus tribromide being a colorless liquid have a sharp penetrating order. For applications, it can either serve as an Lewis acid or Lewis base. The applications of PBr₃ mainly lies in the field of chemistry, laboratory and industry. It synthesizes different chemicals and serve as a reagent and catalyst for manufacturing halides.