1347. Boron Tribromide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 10294-33-4
BBr3; mol wt 250.52.
B 4.32%, Br 95.69%.

Description and references

Prepn: Gamble, Inorg. Synth. 3, 27 (1950); Becher in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry Vol. 1, G. Brauer, Ed. (Academic Press, New York, 2nd ed., 1963) p 781. Review of boron halides: Massey, Adv. Inorg. Chem. Radiochem. 10, 1-152 (1967). Review of toxicology and human exposure: Toxicological Profile for Boron (PB93-110674, 1992) 110 pp. Brief review of synthetic applications: E. G. Doyagüez, Synlett 2005, 1636-1637.

Properties

Colorless, fuming liquid; dec by water or alcohol. mp 46.0°; bp 90°. d0 2.698. Poisonous, corrosive. Store under dry inert atmosphere. Reacts violently with water, alcohols. Vapor pressure data: Barber et al., J. Chem. Eng. Data 9, 137 (1964).

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure are irritation of eyes, skin, respiratory system; skin and eye burns; dyspnea, pulmonary edema. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 32.

Use

Manuf of diborane; ultra high purity boron. Reagent for cleavage of ethers, amines, thiols; addition of allenes and alkynes.