The synthesis and reactivity of organobromine compounds in homolytic addition and telomerisation processes

Studies carried out in recent years on the radical chemistry of organobromine compounds, primarily on their application as addends in addition and telomerisation reactions, are surveyed. The use of metal complex initiating systems based on iron pentacarbonyl, together with traditional peroxide initiators, is described. This made it possible to expand significantly the synthetic possibilities of these reactions in view of their highly selective course involving the C-Br bond, and the involvement in the reaction of organic monobromo- and dibromo-compounds which hardly react under the conditions of peroxide initiation. The first examples of the stereocontrolled occurrence of the radical addition of organobromine addends to chiral monomers, leading to one of the stereoisomers, are presented. The bibliography includes 36 references.