A simple and efficient method for α-bromination of carbonyl compounds using N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of silica-supported sodium hydrogen sulfate as a heterogeneous catalyst

α-Bromination of carbonyl compounds (cyclic and acyclic ketones, amides and β-ketoesters) has been achieved efficiently by treatment with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and catalyzed by silica-supported sodium hydrogen sulfate (NaHSO4·SiO2). The products were formed in high yields under mild reaction conditions and in short reaction times.