2-Bromomesitylene is a useful synthetic intermediate. It is an intermediate used to prepare Hydrogen[4-[bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phosphino]-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl]hydrobis(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)borate (H714510) which is a frustrated phosphonium borate for metal-free catalytic hydrogenation of imines.