Abstract: Prepare high purity perbrominated aromatic compounds, especially decabromodiphenyl oxide, by adding an aromatic compound to a mixture comprising an organic solvent, a catalyst, and a slight stoichiometric excess of bromine, at a low initial reaction temperature.

Abstract: Brominated pentaerythritols are prepared at reaction temperatures of from about 85.degree. to 135.degree.C. by reacting pentaerythritol with HBr in the liquid phase employing a solvent medium containing from about 0.8 to about 25 mole percent of an aliphatic carboxylic acid of 2 to 8 carbon atoms and their anhydrides, based on the pentaerythritol. The HBr is fed continuously to the reactor throughout the reaction. The water formed as a result of the reaction remains in the reaction mixture until substantial completion of the reaction. The product can be predominantly dibromoneopentyl glycol or tribromoneopentyl alcohol and is characterized by the absence of tar formation.