Product Description
Chloroacetyl chloride (CAS 79-04-9, ClCH₂COCl) is a colorless to yellowish pungent liquid, a highly reactive acyl chloride widely used as an acetylating agent and building block in pharmaceutical and agrochemical synthesis. It fumes in moist air because it hydrolyzes rapidly to chloroacetic acid and HCl.
Key features:
High reactivity acyl chloride, readily acylates alcohols, amines and thiols.
Colorless to yellowish liquid, easy to meter in closed reactors.
Both the acyl chloride and the α-chloro group are synthetic handles.
Good solubility in common organic solvents (toluene, DCM, chloroform).
High-purity grades available for GMP pharma use.
Standard intermediate for chloroacetamide and chloroacetyl derivatives.
Product Parameters
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Chloroacetyl Chloride |
| CAS No. | 79-04-9 |
| EINECS No. | 201-171-6 |
| Molecular Formula | C₂H₂Cl₂O (ClCH₂COCl) |
| Molecular Weight | 112.94 |
| Appearance | Colorless to yellowish clear liquid |
| Purity | ≥ 99.0% |
| Density (20 °C) | 1.415 – 1.425 g/cm³ |
| Boiling Point | 105 – 108 °C |
| Melting Point | ~ −22 °C |
| Refractive Index (n20/D) | 1.452 – 1.454 |
| Freezing Point | ~ −22 °C |
| Storage | Cool, dry, sealed; corrosive, away from water and bases |
| Packaging | 200 kg PE-lined steel drum / IBC |
Product Application
Chloroacetyl chloride is a versatile acyl chloride intermediate mainly used in pharmaceutical and agrochemical synthesis, and as an industrial acetylating agent.
In pharmaceuticals, it is a key starting material for chloramphenicol and a range of active ingredients containing the chloroacetyl group, including acetazolamide and other sulfonamide drugs. It reacts with amino alcohols and aromatic amines to build the chloroacetamide motif found in many APIs.
In agrochemicals, it is used to synthesize chloroacetamide herbicides (e.g., alachlor, acetochlor, butachlor family precursors) and other crop-protection intermediates.
In organic synthesis, it is a standard acetylating agent for preparing
chloroacetate esters, chloroacetamides and quaternary ammonium salts. It is also used in dyestuff synthesis, as a resin modifier, and as a reagent for introducing the –COCH₂Cl group into molecules.
