Visible light induced ‘on water’ benzylic bromination with N-bromosuccinimide

Benzylic bromination of various 4-substituted toluenes (Me, tert-Bu, COOEt and COMe) was effectively conducted with NBS in pure water and with a 40 W incandescent light-bulb as an initiator of the radical chain process, while electron donating groups (OMe and NHAc) directed the reaction to electrophilic aromatic substitution.