3792. Ethylene Bromohydrin

Nomenclature

CAS number: 540-51-2
2-Bromoethanol; β-bromoethyl alcohol; glycol bromohydrin.
C2H5BrO; mol wt 124.96.
C 19.22%, H 4.03%, Br 63.94%, O 12.80%.
BrCH2CH2OH.

Description and references

Prepd by the action of hydrobromic acid on ethylene oxide: Thayer et al., Org. Synth. 6, 12 (1926).

Properties

Hygroscopic liq. d40 1.7902; d415 1.7696; d420 1.7629; d425 1.7560; d430 1.7494. bp750 149-150° (decompn); bp20 56-57°; bp13 48.5°. nD20 1.49361. Miscible with water; sol in the usual organic solvents, except petr ether. Hydrolysis of aq solns is accelerated by heat, acids, alkalies. Aq solns have a sweet, burning taste.

Caution

Ethylene bromohydrin vapors are an irritant to the eyes and the mucosa.