A new recyclable ditribromide reagent for efficient bromination under solvent free condition.

1,2-Dipyridiniumditribromide-ethane (DPTBE) has been synthesized and explored as a new efficient brominating agent. The crystalline ditribromide reagent is stable for months and acts as a safe source of bromine requiring just 0.5 equiv for complete bromination. It has high active bromine content per molecule and shows a remarkable reactivity compared to other tribromide reagents toward various substrates by just grinding the reagent and substrates in a porcelain mortar at room temperature. No organic solvent has been used during any stage of the reaction for substrates giving product as solid. Product can easily be isolated by just washing the highly water soluble 1,2-dipyridiniumdibromide-ethane (DPDBE) from the brominated product. The spent reagent can be recovered, regenerated, and reused without any significant loss.