1,2-Dibromoarylalkanes from simple hydrocarbons. DDQ-mediated one-pot reaction.

The presented reaction protocol for the bromination of arylalkanes gives the products of 1,2-dibromination at the alkane chain. This one-pot process is carried out under mild conditions using DDQ, blue light (470 nm) and a manganese catalyst based on a porphyrin skeleton. In the case of an analogous reaction carried out without adding bromine, the products oxidised at the benzylic C-H position are obtained.