Propionyl chloride (also propanoyl chloride) is the
organic compound
In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. T ...
with the
formula CH
3CH
2C(O)Cl. It is the
acyl chloride derivative of
propionic acid. It undergoes the characteristic reactions of acyl chlorides.
It is a colorless, corrosive, volatile
liquid.
It is used as a
reagent for
organic synthesis. In derived chiral amides and esters, the methylene protons are diastereotopic.
Synthesis
Propionyl chloride is industrially
produced by chlorination of
propionic acid with
phosgene:
:CH
3CH
2CO
2H + COCl
2 → CH
3CH
2COCl + HCl + CO
2
References
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Acyl chlorides
Reagents for organic chemistry