Phenacyl bromide explained

Phenacyl bromide is the organic compound with the formula C₆H₅C(O)CH₂Br. This colourless solid is a powerful lachrymator as well as a useful precursor to other organic compounds.

It is prepared by bromination of acetophenone:

C₆H₅C(O)CH₃ + Br₂ → C₆H₅C(O)CH₂Br + HBr

The compound was first reported in 1871.^[1]

References

1. 10.1002/cber.18710040149 . A. Emmerling and C. Engler . Ueber einige Abkömmlinge des Acetophenons . . 4 . 1 . 147–149 . 1871.