In the layered quantum spin systems TiOCl and TiOBr the magnetic susceptibility shows a very weak temperature dependence at high temperatures and transition-induced phenomena at low temperatures. There is a clear connection of the observed transition temperatures to the distortion of the octahedra and the layer separation. Band structure calculations point to a relation of the local coordinations and the dimensionality of the magnetic properties. While from magnetic Raman scattering only a small decrease of the magnetic exchange by -5-10 % is derived comparing TiOCl with TiOBr, the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility favors a much bigger change. 75.10.Jm, 75.30.Et The compounds TiOX, with X=Cl and Br are formed by layers of distorted TiO 4 X 2 octahedra. Quantum magnetism in these systems is based on the Ti 3+ ions with one electron (3d 1 , s=1/2) in a t 2g state. The distortion of the octahedra leads to the predominant occupation of d xy orbitals that form chain-like direct exchange paths of orbitals along the crystallographic b axis of the compound. In several experiments, as magnetic susceptibility 1,2 , NMR 3 , ESR 4 , X-ray scattering 5,6 , Raman scattering and optical spectroscopy 7,8 , strong fluctuations and multiple transitions are observed that are attributed to this spin/orbital system with low dimensionality. So far, with the exception of one IR investigation 9 , only the system TiOCl has been investigated thoroughly. The isostructural TiOBr has not been in the center of interest due to more severe problems in growing single crystalline samples of sufficient quality.The scaling of the IR active phonon frequencies with the involved ionic masses, however, proposes TiOBr as a perfect reference system. The compounds differ crystallographically by an increase of the c axis lattice parameter from 8.03 to 8.53Å, going from X=Cl to Br. This