The reaction of several alkenes with 0.4 mol equiv. PBr3/SiO2 in dichloromethane at room temperature gave the alkyl bromides with Markovnikov regiospecificity in 50 - 100% yield and short reaction time. Isoprene at - 8 °C in these conditions gave 1-bromo-3-methyl-2-butene only (54%).
alkenes; bromides; electrophilic addition; regiospecificity; silica