A Convenient One-Pot Synthesis of Aralkyl Bromides and Iodides by Reductive Halogenation of Aromatic Carbonyl Compounds

Aromatic aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, and esters are converted in high yields to the corresponding aralkyl bromides or iodides by a one-pot procedure which consists of quenching the complex formed from lithium aluminium hydride and the starting material with hydrogen bromide or iodide.