Benzene is an aromatic compound that is a colorless or light yellow liquid in room temperature. Benzene derivatives are widely used in many industries that manufacture plastics, nylon, lubricants, detergents, rubbers, dyes and drugs. Benzene exposure can be serious and cause a wide variety of symptoms, such as drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, vomiting, tremors, convulsions and even death.
CH2Br2 is the chemical formula for methylene dibromide, also called as dibromomethane. Like benzene, methylene dibromide is a colorless liquid at room temperature. Exposure to the liquid can cause skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal irritation. Always protect your skin with a lab coat and cloves, and your eyes with glasses.
Aromatic ring molecules, such as benzene and its derivatives, undergo bromination reaction when treated with elemental bromine in conditions that favor bromination. According to a United States Patent 4,940,870, bromination of benzene can be performed in a medium that contains methylene dibromide.
Perform a bromination reaction and produce bromo dimethoxybenzene or dibromodimethoxybenzene compounds by mixing together 100 grams of dimethoxy benzene and 100 grams of methylene dibromide in a flask. In a separate flask mix together 90 grams of potassium bromide – KBr – in 245 grams of water. Add 35.5 milliliters of bromine to this solution and mix. Take 250 milliliters of the second solution and mix in with the benzene solution. The resulting reaction is exothermic and once the temperature rises to 23 degrees Celsius, transfer the solution into a cooling water bath to keep the temperature between 22 and 25 degrees C for a total of 70 minutes.