2-monobromomethyl 1,4-dihydropyridines is selectively synthesized by bromination of the parent compound by 1.1 equivalents of pyridinium bromide perbromide in dichloromethane/pyridine at -20 °C. The same reagent in dichloromethane at 0 °C produce the 2,6-bis(bromomethyl) 1,4-dihydropyridines.

isatin, n-methyl isatin and n-benzylisatin were smoothly monobrominated in the 5-position by treatment with pyridinium bromochromate (pbc) in acetic acid medium. in the similar conditions indigo underwent bromination and oxidation to give 5-bromoisatin in high yield.