Process of preparing high purity bromopicrin, and high purity bromopicrin
produced therefrom. Providing a mixture of nitromethane and bromine, and
preferably water, and absent of organic solvent. Adding an aqueous
solution of an alkaline substance to the mixture, thereby providing a
reaction mixture containing bromopicrin, the adding performed such that
no excess of the alkaline substance occurs in the reaction mixture during
the adding. Collecting the organic phase (containing the bromopicrin)
from the reaction mixture. No need for subjecting the organic phase of
the reaction mixture to distillation or extraction, for obtaining near
quantitative yield of bromopicrin having purity of at least equal to or
greater than 96 weight percent. Process parameters controlling
selectivity of reaction forming bromopicrin are molar ratio of bromine
and nitromethane in the mixture; reaction temperature while bromopicrin
is formed; concentration of the alkaline substance in the aqueous
solution; and reaction time.