A mild and versatile procedure for the bromination of olefins and activated arenes by in situ generation of 'Br+' using (diacetoxyiodo)benzene and lithium bromide is presented. The reactions were carried out in open vessels at room temperature and were typically complete in 30 minutes. The brominated products were isolated by column chromatography, which also allowed for the isolation of the iodobenzene by-product for recycle.