4-Bromo-1-chloro-2-[[4-[[(tert-butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy]phenyl]methyl]benzene is a specialty chemical compound designed for advanced organic synthesis, particularly in the pharmaceutical and materials science industries. At first glance, the IUPAC name looks imposing, but every segment of the term points toward a distinct chemical structure valued for its use in targeted synthesis pathways. The key features in its name – bromo, chloro, silyl, and phenyl – shape not just its physical behavior but also its broad applications in lab and production environments. Here, chemists see a stable aromatic core, halogen substituents for reactivity, and a tert-butyl dimethylsilyl ether which both protects and modifies molecular interactions. Professional interest around this molecule often revolves around scalability, safety, reactivity, purity, and its fit in complex molecular architectures.
This compound draws attention thanks to its multi-substituted benzene backbone. The bromo and chloro atoms sit on one aromatic ring, each at specific positions, flanked by a methyl bridge that connects to another phenyl group. The 4-position on the distal ring holds a tert-butyl dimethylsilyl ether, which delivers both steric bulk and stability, allowing for selective functionalization elsewhere in the molecule. Chemists refer to its molecular formula as C21H26BrClOSi, which reveals the presence of bromine, chlorine, silicon, and oxygen alongside a heavy hydrocarbon skeleton. Its molecular weight measures about 437.87 g/mol, making handling practices focused on density and storage efficiency.
As a raw material, this compound usually appears as a colorless to pale yellow solid under ambient conditions. It often takes the form of irregular flakes or crystalline powder, though with careful crystallization, it may be isolated as large, glimmering crystals. Density ranges from 1.2 to 1.4 g/cm³, which affects how it must be handled in bulk or containerized storage. It carries a moderate melting point, typically around 80–120°C depending on crystal form and purity level. The choice of tert-butyl dimethylsilyl ether gives it significant resistance to hydrolysis, which means it keeps well in dry environments but hydrolyzes with exposure to strong acids or bases. Its solubility lies in the realm of nonpolar solvents, including toluene, dichloromethane, and ether, while water solubility rests at negligible levels. The interplay between hydrophobic aromatic rings and the silyl ether ensures strong partitioning into organic phases – a useful property for separation and purification in both research and manufacturing.
Buyers and importers often reference the international harmonized system for trading this chemical. The HS code for halogenated aromatic compounds such as this one typically falls under 2903, with more precise classification depending on the specific substitution pattern and intended use. Purity explodes as a factor in purchasing, with pure grades reaching upwards of 98% as verified by NMR, HPLC, or GC-MS. Impurities include unreacted precursors or hydrolysis products, both of which impact reactivity. Common specifications cover melting point, spectral matches, loss on drying, and single-point chemical identification by both IR and MS. Material often ships in tightly sealed, light-protected containers, usually inerted with nitrogen to prevent slow oxidation or moisture ingress.
Producers can tailor the physical form depending on downstream use – flakes arrived by slow solvent evaporation, powder by rapid precipitation or mechanical crushing, while larger pearls or crystals come from controlled recrystallization. This attention to form bears influence over solubility rate and handling: finely divided powders dissolve fast and can be weighed easily for precise synthesis, while chunky flakes sometimes suit storage and slow-release needs. In my lab work, uniformity in particle size always carves a smoother workflow, especially for automated dispensers and sample preparation for analytical testing. For synthetic work, the crystals offer decisive evidence of purity and structure when run under single-crystal X-ray diffraction, a staple for registration dossiers and publication quality data.
At its standard density, accurate volume-to-mass conversion drives scale-up and risk assessments. Chemists rarely measure by liters for such specialized solids, but solutions in high-purity solvents do appear often for both stock holdings and distributable intermediates. Safety protocols demand use of low-humidity labs, with gloves, goggles, and proper ventilation, since dust generation from powder can raise both flammability and exposure risks. In addition, weighing and dispensing in analytical labs often calls for closed balances with atmosphere control, particularly since the silyl group can draw in trace water from exposed air over time, altering the compound’s weight and handling feel.
Raw materials for synthesizing this compound pull from brominated and chlorinated benzenes, high-grade tert-butyl dimethylsilyl chloride, and a protected benzyl alcohol reagent. Each step in the manufacturing demands not only technical precision but also solvent management and waste treatment to manage environmental impact. Manufacturing pulls together hazardous and sometimes noxious intermediates, which makes closed-loop systems with proper fume scrubbers and liquid waste treatments essential to both worker safety and regulatory compliance. My experience in process development always highlighted the need for real-time monitoring of halogenated by-products, as impurities can sneak past less rigorous checkpoints and compromise finished product quality or downstream compatibility.
This compound presents the dual personality so common in specialty organic intermediates: on the one hand, it allows breakthrough synthesis and customization in complicated molecules, especially pharmaceuticals and performance materials. On the other hand, the bromine and chlorine substituents, plus the silyl ether, pull in concerns around toxicity, breathing exposure, and potential for environmental persistence if spilled or mishandled. On-site, standard hazard pictograms flag risks like skin and eye irritation, and precautions stretch across the workplace to include emergency wash stations, spill kits, and robust training for both scientific and warehouse staff. In my chemical safety training, emphasis always lands on knowing the escape routes, secondary containment, and stepwise escalation to response teams in case of large spills or unplanned reactions. Harmful effects trace to chronic exposure or accidental ingestion, so meticulous labeling and access controls shape the day-to-day protocols. Downstream, waste must pass through approved incineration or chemical neutralization, as regulations across Asia, Europe, and North America clamp down on halogenated aromatics entering groundwater or landfill streams.
Industry and research circles prize this compound for its ability to act as both a building block and a protective motif in multi-step synthesis, especially when improvising around difficult functional group chemistry. Medicinal chemists treat it as a precursor for targeted substitution and custom side-chain assemblies, often feeding it through cross-coupling reactions like Suzuki or Buchwald-Hartwig to enable exploration of new frameworks. In the materials field, it occasionally forms the scaffold for specialty polymers or high-performance coatings. Yet challenges remain, and they’re not just technical – scarcity of precursor materials, strict export controls, and cost hikes due to supply chain shocks all demand smarter logistics and constant regulatory monitoring. Real improvement comes through green chemistry innovation, where teams swap out hazardous solvents, streamline catalyst systems, and design for minimal-waste cycles. My experience tells me cross-disciplinary teams – merging process engineers, analytical chemists, and safety specialists – unlock the best solutions: safer, faster, leaner processes, coupled with end-to-end tracking of raw material sources and chemical fates. The more transparent and traceable the supply chain, the better control all stakeholders have over both productivity and environmental impact. With heavy hitters like pharmaceutical innovators and specialty chemical producers always in need of precision and scale, savvy players will double down on both safety and sustainability to keep this essential intermediate in the toolkit.
