Reactive separation of β-bromoethylbenzene from α-β-bromoethylbenzene mixtures: a Zn2+-mediated radical polymerization mechanism

Abstract

A Zn²⁺-induced reactive separation method for the purification of β-bromoethylbenzene from α-β-bromoethylbenzene mixtures is discovered, where the selective decomposition of α-bromoethylbenzene follows a radical mechanism. Zn²⁺ facilitates the homolysis of the C–Br bond of halohydrocarbons with benzyl bromide, enabling the separation of the corresponding isomers with almost identical physical properties.