The iodination of aromatics and bromination of alkenes on A1203

The iodinatlon of aromatic substrates employing dehydrated γ-alumina as catalyst has been investigated. While aromatic substrates of varying reactivity were iodinated with I₂ on AI₂O₃, the reagent proved to be a particularly effective catalyst for iodinating arenes.

The effect of CCl₄ on the bromination of alkenes on AI2O3 was also investigated. The results demonstrated that CCl₄ reacts with the dehydrated AI2O3 to generate Cl^-, which can react with bromonium ions on the surface of AI₂O₃ to produce trans-bromochloride products. There is also Cl^- on commercial AI₂O₃ which also is incorporated into the halogenated products.