2,6-Difluorobenzyl bromide (also known as α-Bromo-2,6-difluorotoluene, CAS: 85118-00-9) is a halogenated aromatic building block with the molecular formula C₇H₅BrF₂ and a molecular weight of 207.02 g/mol. It appears as a white to almost white crystalline powder with a melting point of 51–55 °C, a density of approximately 1.6 g/cm³, and an EINECS number of 285-652-6. The structure features a benzene ring with two fluorine atoms at the 2- and 6-positions and a reactive bromomethyl group. This specific substitution pattern makes the benzylic carbon highly susceptible to nucleophilic substitution reactions, serving as a primary mechanism for incorporating this versatile building block into larger molecules.
As a specialized fluorinated intermediate, 2,6-difluorobenzyl bromide is an indispensable building block in pharmaceutical synthesis, agrochemical development, and materials science. Its unique 2,6-difluoro substitution pattern is critical for downstream biological activity and cannot be replicated by generic benzyl halides. The two electron-withdrawing fluorine atoms at the ortho positions significantly influence the molecule’s electrophilic properties, enhancing reactivity while also improving the metabolic stability and bioavailability of target drug molecules. Its production typically involves bromination of 2,6-difluorotoluene or related routes. Market demand is closely linked to the global pharmaceutical industry, driven by the increasing importance of fluorinated intermediates in drug design and the growing demand for high-performance crop protection agents. Based on its chemical characteristics and industrial chain position, this article systematically analyzes international market dynamics of 2,6-difluorobenzyl bromide, focusing on core application scenarios, competitive landscape, regional differences, regulatory trends, and future outlook, providing strategic references for industry participants.
Core Application Fields and Demand
Market demand for 2,6-difluorobenzyl bromide is concentrated in three major sectors: pharmaceutical synthesis (≈50-55% of global consumption), agrochemical production (≈20-25%), and advanced materials & specialty chemicals (≈15-20%).
In the pharmaceutical synthesis sector, 2,6-difluorobenzyl bromide serves as a critical intermediate for several important drug classes:
- Rufinamide (Antiepileptic): The compound is a crucial starting material for rufinamide, an anticonvulsant medication used for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The specific 2,6-difluoro substitution pattern is essential for the drug’s activity, and direct substitution with simpler benzyl halides would abolish this activity. The synthesis involves a multicomponent reaction from 2,6-difluorobenzyl bromide, sodium azide, and propiolamide.
- Relugolix (GnRH Antagonist): 2,6-Difluorobenzyl bromide is also a pivotal intermediate in the synthesis of relugolix, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist used to treat prostate cancer and uterine fibroids.
- Drug Discovery & Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals: The compound plays a crucial role in drug discovery processes, particularly in the development of fluorinated pharmaceuticals that exhibit enhanced metabolic stability and bioavailability. The unique fluorine substituents allow for the exploration of new fluorinated materials and pharmaceutical candidates with improved performance. It has been used as a reagent in the alkylation of quinazoline-2-thioxo-4-one, in the synthesis of 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triones, and in the preparation of inhibitors of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) — a surrogate virus for hepatitis C — for the treatment of this disease.
In the agrochemical production sector, 2,6-difluorobenzyl bromide is applied in the synthesis of agrochemicals, including herbicides and pesticides, which are essential for crop protection and yield improvement. The fluorine substituents enhance the compound’s lipophilicity and can influence its electronic properties, making it useful in the development of agrochemicals with improved efficacy and environmental profiles.
In the advanced materials & specialty chemicals sector, the compound is used in the production of specialty polymers and resins, contributing to materials with improved thermal and chemical resistance. In materials science, incorporating the difluorobenzyl group can improve properties such as thermal stability and chemical resistance in advanced polymers and coatings. It also serves as a valuable reagent for exploring new fluorinated materials with potential applications in electronics and coatings.
Major Market Participants
The global supply system for 2,6-difluorobenzyl bromide follows a pattern of specialized fluorinated intermediate manufacturers, with production concentrated in China, Europe, and North America. The compound is generally supplied as a white to almost white crystalline powder with purity ranging from 97% to ≥99% (verified by GC analysis). Major international suppliers include TCI Chemicals (offering ≥98.0% purity, melting point 51-54°C), Sigma-Aldrich (Merck) (offering 97% purity with MDL MFCD00000329), Thermo Fisher Scientific (Alfa Aesar) (offering 96% purity), Chem-Impex (offering ≥98% purity), BOC Sciences, and BenchChem (offering high-purity material). Chinese manufacturers dominate global supply, with key producers including specialized chemical companies in Jiangsu, Shandong, and other industrial provinces.
Shanghai XinChem Co., Ltd. (XinChem) has established a reliable, quality-controlled supply chain for high-purity 2,6-Difluorobenzyl bromide (CAS 85118-00-9). Our product is manufactured under strict quality management, achieving consistent purity (≥98-99%) with low impurity profiles, fully complying with global pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and material science standards. It is available in research grade (for laboratory and R&D applications), industrial grade (for agrochemical and material synthesis), and high-purity grade (for pharmaceutical and advanced applications). With a solid physical form (melting point 52-55°C), the compound is suitable for safe, precise automated dispensing and is shipped under inert gas to maintain stability.
Regional Market Dynamics
Global demand for 2,6-difluorobenzyl bromide shows regional differentiation: “Asia-Pacific dominates production, North America and Europe lead in high-purity pharmaceutical and specialty applications, and Latin America and Middle East & Africa are emerging growth regions.” The global 2,6-difluorobenzyl bromide market is the subject of comprehensive industry research, with reports covering market drivers, challenges, supply/demand dynamics, regional overviews, and detailed market predictions.
Asia-Pacific, particularly China, is the world’s largest producer and fastest-growing region for fluorinated benzyl intermediates. Chinese manufacturers, including XinChem, offer competitive pricing at scales ranging from research quantities to industrial batches, serving both domestic demand for pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediates and exports to global markets.
North America (United States and Canada) and Europe (Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom, France) together account for the largest share of high-purity pharmaceutical and specialty consumption (≥99%), driven by the highest concentration of pharmaceutical R&D, agrochemical innovation, and advanced material research. Customer requirements in these regions are stringent: purity ≥98%, full traceability, compliance with REACH and TSCA regulations, and comprehensive impurity documentation.
Japan and South Korea demand ultra-high-purity grades for advanced pharmaceutical development and high-performance material applications.
Regulatory and Environmental Considerations
2,6-Difluorobenzyl bromide (CAS 85118-00-9) is subject to regulatory oversight in major economies, particularly when intended for pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and material applications. The compound is classified as a hazardous material (Hazmat Yes) and should be handled with appropriate safety precautions. Storage conditions: store in a tightly sealed container under inert gas (argon filling recommended) at room temperature or below 15°C in a cool, dry place, protected from moisture and light. The compound is stable under recommended storage conditions.
In the European Union, 2,6-difluorobenzyl bromide is registered under REACH; importers and manufacturers must provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS). In the United States, the compound is regulated under TSCA as an existing chemical substance; for pharmaceutical API use, adherence to cGMP guidelines (21 CFR Parts 210/211) is required. In China, the compound is listed in the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (IECSC) and requires safety production licenses for manufacturing facilities.
Environmentally, halogenated organic compounds require responsible handling and disposal. Manufacturing processes generate solvent-containing waste streams requiring proper treatment and disposal in accordance with environmental regulations.
Future Outlook
The market outlook for 2,6-difluorobenzyl bromide is tied to three core drivers: (1) sustained growth in global demand for fluorinated pharmaceutical intermediates, driven by the increasing role of fluorine in drug design and the compound’s critical role in synthesizing rufinamide, relugolix, and other therapeutic agents; (2) rising demand for high-performance agrochemicals to ensure food security; and (3) expanding applications in materials science, where the difluorobenzyl group improves thermal stability and chemical resistance in advanced polymers and coatings.
Challenges include: raw material cost volatility for brominating and fluorinating agents, competition from alternative fluorinated benzyl halides, and potential regulatory restrictions on certain halogenated compounds. Enterprises should focus on securing high-purity (≥99%) production capabilities, maintaining rigorous impurity documentation for global regulatory filings, ensuring compliance with REACH and TSCA requirements, and building long-term supply partnerships with pharmaceutical manufacturers, agrochemical companies, and advanced material producers.
Shanghai XinChem Co., Ltd. (XinChem)
As a world-leading supplier of fluorinated organic intermediates, pharmaceutical building blocks, and specialty chemicals, Shanghai XinChem Co., Ltd. (XinChem) has always focused on the innovative needs of the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and material science industries. Relying on core advantages in organic synthesis, halogenation chemistry, quality control, and global logistics, we provide high-quality 2,6-Difluorobenzyl bromide (α-Bromo-2,6-difluorotoluene, CAS 85118-00-9) to global customers. Our product is manufactured under strict quality management, achieving consistent specifications for pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and research grades. Fully compliant with international quality standards, it is an ideal fluorinated benzyl building block for pharmaceutical API synthesis (rufinamide, relugolix), agrochemical development, and advanced material applications.
1. Technical Advantages
High Purity & Consistency: Our 2,6-difluorobenzyl bromide achieves purity levels of ≥98-99% (verified by GC analysis), supplied as a white to almost white crystalline powder, molecular weight 207.02 g/mol, melting point 51-55°C, MDL MFCD00000329.
Low Impurity Profile: Strict control of residual solvents, heavy metals, and related substances ensures high performance for pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and material applications.
Multiple Grades Available: We offer research grade (for laboratory and R&D applications), industrial grade (for agrochemical and material synthesis), and high-purity grade (for pharmaceutical and advanced applications).
Batch-to-Batch Uniformity: Rigorous analytical testing (GC, HPLC, melting point) guarantees consistent quality and reproducible performance across all production lots.
2. Product Advantages
Critical Pharmaceutical Intermediate: Directly used in the synthesis of rufinamide (antiepileptic for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome), relugolix (GnRH antagonist for prostate cancer and uterine fibroids), and other fluorinated drug candidates.
Versatile Fluorinated Building Block: Used in alkylation reactions, synthesis of 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triones, and preparation of BVDV inhibitors.
Reactive Bromomethyl Handle: The benzylic bromine is highly susceptible to nucleophilic substitution, enabling efficient incorporation into complex molecular architectures.
Specific 2,6-Difluoro Pharmacophore: The unique substitution pattern is critical for biological activity and cannot be replicated by generic benzyl halides.
Flexible Packaging: 1g, 5g, 10g, 25g, 50g, 100g, 500g (R&D); 1kg, 5kg, 10kg, 25kg, 50kg fiber drums/HDPE containers (industrial); full custom packaging available.
Reliable Supply Chain: Annual capacity in the multi-ton range, with dedicated warehousing (inert gas, cool, dry, light-protected, sealed containers) and just-in-time delivery capabilities.
3. Application Fields
- Pharmaceutical Synthesis: Rufinamide (antiepileptic), relugolix (GnRH antagonist), BVDV inhibitors, quinazoline-2-thioxo-4-one derivatives, 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triones, and other fluorinated APIs.
- Agrochemical Production: Herbicides, pesticides, and crop protection agents.
- Materials Science: Specialty polymers and resins with improved thermal and chemical resistance; fluorinated coatings and electronic materials.
- Organic Synthesis: Versatile building block for constructing complex fluorinated molecular architectures via nucleophilic substitution.
- Fluorine Chemistry: Exploration of new fluorinated materials for electronics and coatings.
4. Service Support
Our technical team provides application guidance, impurity profiling, formulation recommendations, and regulatory documentation (Certificate of Analysis, Technical Data Sheet, Safety Data Sheet, REACH compliance, TSCA certification). We offer custom packaging and just-in-time delivery.
5. Why Choose XinChem
- Professionalism: 20+ years in the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and fluorochemical industries.
- Flexibility: Tailored to customer purity specifications, grade requirements, packaging sizes, and regulatory documentation needs.
- Cost-effectiveness: High quality at competitive industrial pricing.
Contact us now to start cooperation!
Website: www.xinchem.com
Email: sales1@xinchem.com
WhatsApp: +86 18049800532
Post time: Jul-22-2026