N-Methylpyrrolidin-2-one hydrotribromide (MPHT) a mild reagent for selective bromination of carbonyl compounds: synthesis of substituted 2-bromo-1-naphtols

The reaction of the N-methylpyrrolidin-2-one hydrotribromide complex (MPHT) with substituted-1-tetralones has been investigated. This safety reagent proved to be successful for selective α,α-dibromination of tetralones. Moreover, under base-free conditions, several 2-bromo-1-naphtols were obtained from tetralones in a ‘one pot’ sequence in good to excellent yields.