| Chemical Properties | Chloroacetyl chloride is a colorless to yellowish
liquid with a very pungent, extremely irritating, odor. |
| Uses | In the synthesis of organic compounds. |
| Uses | Intermediate in manufacture of
chloroacetophenone and various other
chemicals |
| Uses | Chloroacetyl chloride is an intermediate in the production of alachlor and butachlor. It is used to prepare phenacyl chloride through Friedel-Crafts acylation of benzene. |
| Application | Chloroacetyl chloride can be used for chloroacetylation and chemical modification of poly(glycidyl methacrylate).
Chloroacetyl chloride was used to study the in vitro metabolism of chloroacetamide herbicides by rat and human liver microsomes. Chloroacetyl chloride was used in the synthesis of some novel quinoline derivatives having antileishmanial activity. |
| Preparation | Chloroacetyl chloride is usually manufactured from chloroacetic acid by reaction with phosphorus trichloride, thionyl chloride, sulfuryl chloride, or phosgene. It is also obtained by chlorination of acetyl chloride in the presence of stronger aliphatic acids, preferably chloroacetic acids, or from sodium chloroacetate and the usual chlorinating agents.
Koenig G et al; Chloroacetic Acids. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 7th ed. (1999-2018). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons. Online Posting Date: October 15, 2012 |
| Definition | Chloroacetyl chloride is classified as an acyl halide. It is a colorless to light yellow liquid with a strong, pungent odor. This compound is highly toxic when inhaled and can corrode both metal surfaces and tissues. |
| General Description | A colorless to light yellow liquid with a very pungent odor. Very toxic by inhalation. Corrosive to metals and tissue. |
| Reactivity Profile | Chloroacetyl chloride reacts rapidly with water. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, alcohols, bases (including amines). May react vigorously or explosively if mixed with diisopropyl ether or other ethers in the presence of trace amounts of metal salts [J. Haz. Mat., 1981, 4, 291]. |
| Hazard | Irritant to eyes, corrosive to skin. Upper
respiratory tract irritant. |
| Health Hazard | Inhalation causes severe irritation of upper respiratory system. External contact causes severe irritation of eyes and skin. Ingestion causes severe irritation of mouth and stomach. |
| Safety Profile | Poison by ingestion and
intravenous routes. Mildly toxic by
inhalation. Corrosive. A lachrymator. When
heated to decomposition it emits toxic
fumes of Cl-. |
| Potential Exposure | Highly toxic by inhalation.
Chloroacetyl chloride is used in the manufacture of acetophenone. It is used in the manufacture of a number of pesticides including: alachlor, allidochlor, butachlor,
dimethachlor, formothion, mecarbam, metolachlor, propachlor. It is also used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals,
such as chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride, diazepam, lidocaine, mianserin. |
| Carcinogenicity | Chloroacetyl chloride was not genotoxic in
a number of assays. |
| Shipping | UN1752 Chloroacetyl chloride, Hazard class:
6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poison Inhalation Hazard, 8-Corrosive
material, Inhalation Hazard Zone B.
|
| Incompatibilities | Reacts violently with water, steamforming chloroacetic acid and hydrogen chloride gas.
Reacts with alcohols, powdered metals; sodium amide;
combustibles; and many organics, causing toxic fumes, fire,
and explosion hazard. On contact with air it emits corrosive
gas. Decomposes when heated forming phosgene gas.
Corrosive to metals. |
| Waste Disposal | It may be discharged into
sodium bicarbonate solution, then flushed to the sewer with
water. |
