This white diamagnetic solid adopts a polymeric structure akin to that for zinc sulfide.

The compound is white, although samples are often colored due to the presence of copper(II) impurities.

It is commonly prepared by the reduction of cupric salts with sulfite in the presence of bromide.

Upon treatment with Lewis bases, CuBr converts to molecular adducts.

[5] Related CuBr complexes are catalysts for atom transfer radical polymerization and copper-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative couplings (CDC).