Brominative Deoxygenation of some aldehydes and ethers

Three aldehydes ( 4a–c ) are transformed into 1,1-dibromides ( 6a–c ) by 2,2,2-tribromo-2,2-dihydro-1,3,2-benzodioxaphosphole ( 2 ). This reagent ( 2 ) is also very active in the cleavage of ethers; its reactions may show some features of carbonium as well as of S_N2 character.