N-Bromosuccinimide can be used as a reagent:
- In the Wohl-Ziegler reaction (bromination at allylic positions via a radical pathway).
- To synthesize benzils and aliphatic 1,2-diketones from hydrobenzoins and 1,2-diols in the presence of CCl4 as a solvent.
- To prepare tricyclic azepino[4,5-b]indoles from indole-β-enaminoesters or β-enaminones via Pictet–Spengler cyclization.
- To synthesize acylsilanes via oxidative hydrolysis of 2-silyl-1,3-dithianes.