Synthesis of 1,3-Dibromo-2-propanol

Amorphous phosphorus (6.5 g) and glycerol
(28.0 g) were added into the 250ml round bottom flask. The mixture was stirred by mechanical
force. The bromine (52.8 g) was then slowly added with a temperature less than 80°C. This
process took about 2 h and stirring was continued for another 2 h .Then the mixture was kept
overnight. The saturated solution of sodium sulfite was added into the mixture to remove the
residue bromine. The crude product was washed with saturated solution of sodium chloride three
times and dried by anhydrous sodium sulfate. After vacuum distillation, 1, 3- dibromo-2-propanol
was obtained as transparent and colorless liquid with the yield of 61.3%.