Chloroacetyl Chloride
The Chloroacetyl Chloride supplied by Chelora Chemicals — a doubly reactive acylating and alkylating reagent used across pharma and agrochemical intermediate synthesis — exported from Indonesia in moisture-proof packaging with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Chloroacetyl Chloride is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the reagent's two reactive sites, how each is exploited in different syntheses, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Chloroacetyl Chloride carries two distinct reactive functional groups in a single small molecule: a highly reactive acid chloride group, far more electrophilic than an ordinary acid chloride because of the adjacent electron-withdrawing chlorine, and a separate alkyl chloride group that can itself undergo substitution reactions once the acid chloride has reacted elsewhere. That dual reactivity is what makes the reagent valuable across such a varied range of downstream syntheses: it can acylate an amine or alcohol through its acid chloride end while leaving the alkyl chloride available for a second, subsequent substitution step, building more complexity into a target molecule in fewer overall synthetic steps than two separately reacting reagents would allow.
At room temperature it is a colourless to pale yellow liquid that fumes in moist air and has a sharp, acrid, lachrymatory (tear-inducing) odour, a characteristic shared with several related low-molecular-weight acid chlorides and a practical early warning of any exposure. It reacts readily, though somewhat less violently than thionyl chloride, with water, hydrolysing to chloroacetic acid and releasing hydrogen chloride gas.
Where it fits in the value chain
Chloroacetyl Chloride's acid chloride group is used to acylate amines in the synthesis of several pharmaceutical actives and intermediates, including certain local anaesthetic and anti-infective compounds, where the resulting chloroacetamide group is itself a useful synthetic handle for further substitution. The same acylation chemistry is widely used in agrochemical manufacture, particularly for certain herbicide active ingredients built around a chloroacetamide core. A further application uses the compound to introduce the chloroacetyl group in dye and specialty-pigment intermediate synthesis.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Chloroacetyl Chloride in technical grade for general industrial acylation chemistry and pharmaceutical-intermediate grade, with tighter colour and related-substance limits, for API and fine-chemical synthesis. Each grade is supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Chloroacetyl Chloride is produced
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Chloroacetyl Chloride is produced predominantly by reacting chloroacetic acid with a chlorinating agent, most commonly thionyl chloride or phosphorus trichloride, which converts the carboxylic acid group to the corresponding, far more reactive acid chloride while leaving the existing alkyl chloride untouched. Using thionyl chloride for this conversion carries the same clean-gaseous-by-product advantage described for that reagent elsewhere in our range, which is one reason it is a common choice for this particular transformation.
An alternative route chlorinates acetyl chloride directly, introducing the second chlorine atom onto the methyl group under controlled radical or catalytic conditions; the chloroacetic-acid/thionyl-chloride route is generally preferred commercially for its more straightforward control and purification. The crude product is purified by distillation to remove residual chlorinating agent, unreacted chloroacetic acid and other trace by-products.
Industries and processes that use it
Chloroacetyl Chloride is consumed across pharmaceutical acylation chemistry, herbicide active-ingredient manufacture and dye/pigment intermediate synthesis. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Pharmaceutical Acylation Chemistry
Acylates amine intermediates in the synthesis of several pharmaceutical actives and intermediates, including certain local anaesthetic and anti-infective compounds.
Chloroacetamide Herbicide Manufacture
A key reagent in the synthesis of several chloroacetamide-class herbicide active ingredients, exploiting the compound's acid-chloride acylation chemistry.
Dye & Pigment Intermediate Synthesis
Used to introduce the chloroacetyl group into dye and specialty-pigment intermediate structures during synthesis.
General Acylation & Alkylation Chemistry
Used wherever a synthesis calls for both an acylation step and a subsequent alkyl-chloride substitution step from the same small reagent.
How the reagent is typically used forward
The reagent's two distinct reactive sites govern almost all of Chloroacetyl Chloride's further use. The categories below account for most of the ways it is applied in downstream synthesis.
Amine Acylation
Reacted with a primary or secondary amine, the acid chloride group acylates the nitrogen to form a chloroacetamide, releasing hydrogen chloride (typically scavenged by a base added to the reaction).
Alcohol Acylation (Esterification)
Reacted with an alcohol to form a chloroacetate ester, a useful activated intermediate for subsequent substitution or hydrolysis steps.
Subsequent Alkyl-Chloride Substitution
Once the acid chloride end has reacted, the remaining alkyl chloride can itself be displaced by a nucleophile in a second synthetic step, building additional molecular complexity from the same starting reagent.
Friedel-Crafts Acylation
Used under Lewis acid catalysis to acylate aromatic rings directly, introducing the chloroacetyl group onto an aromatic substrate for further dye or pharma intermediate synthesis.
Chloroacetyl Chloride against related chlorinating/acylating reagents we supply
Buyers sourcing Chloroacetyl Chloride often also need a related chlorinating or acylating reagent for a different step in the same pharma or agro route. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chloroacetyl Chloride | 79-04-5 | Chloro-substituted acid chloride | The product on this page — a doubly reactive acylating and alkylating reagent. |
| Thionyl Chloride | 7719-09-7 | Inorganic chlorinating reagent | Commonly used to make this compound from chloroacetic acid, and a related general-purpose chlorinating reagent — see its product page. |
| Ethyl Chloroformate | 541-41-3 | Chloroformate ester reagent | A related acylating reagent used for carbamate and ester formation in fine-chemical synthesis — see its product page. |
| Guaiacol | 90-05-1 | Phenolic ether | An example aromatic substrate occasionally acylated with reagents of this type in specialty synthesis — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Chloroacetyl Chloride.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
Fatal if inhaled.
Harmful if swallowed.
Strongly irritating and tear-inducing even at low airborne concentration.
Chemical-resistant gloves, full-face respiratory protection and acid-resistant clothing are required for routine handling.
Handle under moisture-controlled conditions; hydrolyses on contact with water, releasing corrosive HCl gas.
Danger
This product causes severe skin burns and eye damage on contact, is fatal if inhaled, and is harmful if swallowed; its vapour is strongly lachrymatory (tear-inducing) even at low concentration, which in practice provides an early sensory warning of exposure but is not a substitute for proper engineering controls. Handling requires chemical-resistant gloves, full-face respiratory protection, acid-resistant clothing and work in a fume hood or otherwise well-ventilated area. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and must be read in full before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in tightly sealed, moisture-excluding containers in a cool, dry area, strictly away from water, amines and strong bases, all of which react readily with the acid chloride group. Any container showing signs of pressure build-up or fuming at the seal should be treated with particular caution and isolated rather than opened under uncontrolled conditions. Re-check assay and chloroacetic acid content on a batch held past its retest date before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Chloroacetyl Chloride leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay, colour and key physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Chloroacetyl Chloride used for?+
02Why does this compound have two different reactive sites?+
03How is Chloroacetyl Chloride produced?+
04What grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Chloroacetyl Chloride hazardous?+
06What packing options are available?+
07How long does delivery take?+
08Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
09Do you supply related chlorinating and acylating reagents as well?+
10What is the minimum order quantity?+
Need Chloroacetyl Chloride on spec, on time?
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