A bromide salt mediated neighboring ester-participated bromocyclization of o-alkynylbenzoates is described here for synthesis of benzil-o-carboxylate. 4-bromoisocoumarins are also reached when phenyl o-alkynylbenzoate is used as the substrate. Mechanism studies suggest that the whole process is comprised by electrophilic bromocyclization and dibromohydration-based ring-opening, and the neighboring