PMGB

A mixture of 1-phenylethanol (1.21 mL) and 48% HBr in water (12 mL) was stirred at room temperature for overnight (12 h). The reaction mixture was diluted with 50 mL ethyl acetate, washed with 50 mL aqueous saturated NaHCO₃ solution, dried over Na₂SO₄ and evaporated under reduced pressure to give (1-bromoethyl)benzene as a light brown oil (1.5 g, 83% yield). NMR complies.

This material was prepared to protect the N atom of an amide so that after a sequence of reactions it can be cleaved off easily using MsOH. [06TL1813]