2,3-Dichloro Nitro Benzene
2,3-Dichloro Nitro Benzene — 2,3-DCNB — is a dichlorinated nitrobenzene carrying both chlorines adjacent to the nitro group. It is the standard feedstock for 2,3-dichloroaniline by catalytic or chemical reduction, and from there feeds dye, agrochemical and pharmaceutical chemistry wherever the 1,2,3 substitution pattern is required.
Chelora Chemicals supplies 2,3-DCNB to dye houses, agrochemical formulators and fine chemical manufacturers worldwide, in bags, drums and container quantities, with a batch COA and GHS safety data sheet on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 3209-22-1
- IUPAC name
- 1,2-Dichloro-3-nitrobenzene
- Molecular formula
- C6H3Cl2NO2
- Molecular weight
- 192.00 g/mol
- EC / EINECS
- 221-717-7
- MDL number
- MFCD00007062
- SMILES
- [O-][N+](=O)c1cccc(Cl)c1Cl
- HS Code
- 2904 20*
* Confirm the exact HS heading with your customs broker — classification of halogenated nitrobenzenes varies between destination tariffs.
What 2,3-Dichloro Nitro Benzene is used for
2,3-Dichloro Nitro Benzene is a nitrobenzene carrying two chlorine atoms ortho and meta to the nitro group, at the 2- and 3-positions. That 1,2,3 substitution pattern is what customers are actually buying: it sets the geometry of the 2,3-dichloroaniline made from it by reduction, and every downstream dye, agrochemical or pharmaceutical intermediate inherits that geometry exactly.
In practice 2,3-DCNB is a captive intermediate rather than a retail chemical: plants buy it specifically to reduce to 2,3-dichloroaniline, or occasionally to use directly as a nitro-aromatic building block in specialty synthesis. Very little of it is sold on as-is.
Why the substitution pattern matters
Chloronitrobenzenes are a large family, and the dichlorinated ones are easy to mis-specify if only "dichloronitrobenzene" appears on a purchase order:
- 2,3-Dichloronitrobenzene (CAS 3209-22-1) — this product. Both chlorines adjacent to the nitro group, at the 2- and 3-positions of the ring.
- 2,4-Dichloronitrobenzene (CAS 611-06-3) — a differently spaced isomer, reduced to 2,4-dichloroaniline for a separate set of dye and agro routes.
- 3,4-Dichloronitrobenzene (CAS 99-54-7) — reduced to 3,4-dichloroaniline, the precursor to the phenylurea herbicides diuron, linuron and propanil.
If your purchase order simply says "dichloronitrobenzene", quote us the CAS number and we will confirm the correct isomer before the order is placed. We supply the sister isomers and the related mono-chloronitrobenzenes as well — see our full chloronitrobenzene range.
Appearance and handling character
2,3-DCNB ships as a white to light yellow or yellow-brown powder, crystalline solid or lump, melting in the 60–64 °C range — low enough that an uncooled container on a tropical routing can soften or fuse the contents. It is essentially insoluble in water and dissolves readily in acetone, ether and ethanol. Like most nitroaromatics it is a stable, low-reactivity solid under normal storage, but it should still be handled as a toxic, organ-damaging material with long-lasting aquatic toxicity — see the safety section below before planning storage or handling.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White to light yellow to yellow-brown powder / lump |
| Assay (GC) | 98.0–99.0% min |
| Melting range | 60 – 64 °C |
| Total isomeric impurities | 1.5% max |
| Moisture | Reported per batch |
| Non-volatile residue | Reported per batch |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial grade material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document. If your process demands a tighter assay, a specific isomer limit or a colour ceiling, send us the specification and we will quote against it rather than against a generic grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Crystalline solid at ambient |
| Melting point | ≈ 60 – 64 °C |
| Boiling point | ≈ 257 °C @ 760 mmHg |
| Relative density | ≈ 1.45 g/cm³ (25 °C) |
| Water solubility | Practically insoluble (≈ 62 mg/L, 20 °C) |
| Organic solubility | Soluble in acetone, diethyl ether, ethanol |
| UN Number | UN2811, Class 6.1, PG III |
| Odour | Faint, characteristic nitroaromatic |
Physical constants compiled from public reference and supplier specification data for CAS 3209-22-1 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this molecule to work
2,3-DCNB earns its place almost entirely through the aniline it becomes. Its downstream volume is spread across dyes, agrochemicals and fine synthesis.
Reduction to 2,3-dichloroaniline
The principal outlet. Catalytic hydrogenation or chemical reduction (iron/HCl, hydrazine/catalyst) converts the nitro group to an amine, giving 2,3-dichloroaniline — itself an intermediate for dye, pigment and agrochemical chemistry.
- Catalytic or chemical nitro reduction
- Isomer purity carries straight through to the amine
- See our dichloroaniline range
Azo dyes & pigments
2,3-Dichloroaniline made from this feedstock is diazotised and coupled to build dichlorinated azo dyes and pigments, where the 1,2,3 chlorine pattern gives a distinct shade and fastness profile from the 2,4- and 3,4-isomers.
- Diazo component after reduction
- Isomer content shows up directly as off-shade
- See our azo intermediate range
Agrochemical intermediates
Chlorinated anilines feed herbicide, fungicide and insecticide chemistry across the industry; 2,3-dichloroaniline and downstream ureas and amides drawn from this pattern are used in agrochemical actives and their intermediates.
- Substituted urea and amide chemistry
- See our agrochemical intermediate range
- Moisture and isomer limits usually tight
Pharmaceutical & specialty intermediates
The dichlorophenyl fragment installed by this route appears across several fine chemical and pharmaceutical building blocks, where the exact chlorine pattern — not just "dichloro" — determines whether the molecule is fit for purpose.
- Amide, sulfonamide and heterocycle synthesis
- Reaxys / PubChem-referenced identity
- Available in trial and laboratory quantities
Fine & specialty synthesis
A well-characterised nitroaromatic building block for custom chemistry where the 2,3-dichloro pattern is needed directly, or as a stable, easy-to-store precursor ahead of a reduction step run in-house.
- Nitro group available for direct chemistry
- Chlorines retained for later coupling
- Available in trial and laboratory quantities
Contract & scheduled supply
Dye and agrochemical plants run to campaign, not to a calendar month. Most 2,3-DCNB buyers want tonnage released against a production plan rather than in one shipment. We hold inventory and release it to your schedule.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply 2,3-Dichloro Nitro Benzene
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. We own no chloronitrobenzene plant — and for an isomer-sensitive intermediate like this one, that independence works in your favour. We are never obliged to push you whatever a captive unit happens to be running that month.
Instead we place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your assay, your isomer tolerance, your price point and your delivery window.
We keep a second qualified source on this line. When a plant goes down for maintenance, or a monsoon disrupts a road corridor, your campaign switches source rather than stalling.
- Specification read against the CAS first. We confirm you need 3209-22-1 and not the 2,4- or 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene isomer before we quote a price.
- Batch COA shared before dispatch. You approve the assay, melting range and impurity profile against your own spec while the material is still in our warehouse.
- Hazard status stated up front. This material is classified toxic with organ-damage and long-lasting aquatic-toxicity hazard statements, and we say so at enquiry stage — not in the small print of a document pack that arrives with the goods.
- Pre-shipment samples for qualification. New account or new source, your R&D team runs a lab batch before the full quantity ever moves.
- Packing chosen for your climate. With a melting point around 60–64 °C, pack format and stowage matter on a tropical routing. We plan both with you.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Hazard classification, UN-approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Consolidation onto one bill of lading. Ship 2,3-DCNB alongside other intermediates from our range — one invoice, one shipment, one counterparty.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Pack format drives your landed cost and your handling effort — and for a toxic, organ-damaging material, it also drives operator exposure. Tell us how it will be charged at your end and we will quote the format that suits your operation.
Multi-wall paper & PE bags
Laminated multi-wall bags with an inner liner, palletised and shrink-wrapped. The default for LCL movements and for plants charging batch-wise by hand.
Fibre & HDPE drums
UN-certified drums with liner for longer sea transits and humid destinations. Better protection against moisture pick-up and caking than bagged material.
Jumbo / FIBC bags
Bulk bags with liner for high-volume users with mechanical charging. Fewer handling movements, lower operator contact and materially lower packing cost per kilo.
Samples & trial packs
Laboratory samples and pilot quantities dispatched by courier so your R&D team can qualify the grade before committing to campaign volume.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to. Ocean, air and road freight arranged end-to-end with documentation filed before booking.
Campaign despatch
Dye and agrochemical production runs to campaign. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your production calendar instead of landing it all at once.
Handle this as a toxic, organ-damaging solid
This is the point on the page that matters most. 2,3-Dichloro nitro benzene is harmful if swallowed, toxic in contact with skin, causes skin irritation, may cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure, and is toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your consignment is the authoritative document and should govern your risk assessment, PPE selection, exposure monitoring and emergency planning.
Classified hazards
H302Harmful if swallowed.H311Toxic in contact with skin.H315Causes skin irritation.H370Causes damage to organs.H373May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.H411Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Hazard statements reflect the harmonised GHS classification commonly published for CAS 3209-22-1 (transport: UN2811, Class 6.1, Packing Group III). Supplier classifications may differ in detail; always read the SDS issued with your specific batch, and treat the organ-damage entries as the ones that shape your controls.
Spill & emergency orientation
Plan your response before the pallet arrives, not after a bag splits. The points below are orientation for your emergency planners — sections 4, 5 and 6 of the SDS are the authoritative instructions and should be posted at the point of use.
- Sweep, do not hose. The material is toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects. Collect spilled solid mechanically into a labelled container; never wash it to a drain.
- Suppress dust. Dry sweeping of a fine powder generates an inhalable aerosol — use vacuum collection or dampen carefully in line with the SDS.
- Assume skin absorption. Nitroaromatics are absorbed through intact skin — remove contaminated clothing immediately and wash the skin thoroughly.
- Have the SDS with the casualty. Nitroaromatics can cause methaemoglobinaemia, and the treating clinician needs the product identity and CAS number in hand.
- Record the exposure. For a material carrying organ-damage hazard statements, most occupational regimes expect an exposure record to be created and retained. That is a decision for your EHS function.
Storage
- Cool, dry, well-ventilated store, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. The melting point is only 60–64 °C, so an uncooled store in a hot climate can fuse the contents into a cake.
- Keep containers tightly closed. Limiting air ingress protects colour and prevents moisture pick-up in an already low-solubility solid.
- Segregate from strong reducing agents, strong bases and combustible materials. As a nitroaromatic it should not be stored alongside reactive reducing chemistry outside a controlled process.
- Access-controlled storage. For a material carrying organ-damage hazard statements, restricting who can reach the store is part of the control, not an administrative nicety.
- Shelf life is typically 24 months in sealed original packing under these conditions. Re-assay before use after long storage.
Handling & PPE
- Design exposure out, do not manage it down. Closed transfer and mechanical charging first, ventilation second, PPE last.
- Skin protection is the priority. Nitroaromatics are absorbed through intact skin — chemical-resistant gloves and coveralls, not just splash protection.
- Respiratory protection where dust may be generated — particularly when breaking a caked drum or emptying a bulk bag — per your own exposure assessment.
- Health surveillance and exposure records. Where the organ-damage classification triggers obligations at your site, your occupational health provider and EHS function own the detail. We flag the classification; the programme is yours to run.
- Never discharge to drain or watercourse. H411 applies — collect spills as solid waste and dispose of them as regulated chemical waste.
Transport
2,3-DCNB moves as regulated cargo under UN2811, Class 6.1, Packing Group III. We classify each consignment, apply UN-approved packaging and labelling, and file the dangerous-goods declaration before the booking is made. The applicable UN number, class and packing group are stated on your shipping documents and SDS — ask us for the current DG paperwork when you plan the shipment.
What travels with every consignment
A chemical shipment is only as good as the file that travels with it. Verifying what the source plant sends is precisely the work you are buying from a supplier.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-specific assay by GC, melting range, appearance and impurity profile — checked against your purchase specification before we release the goods.
GHS Safety Data Sheet
Full 16-section SDS in GHS format covering hazards, exposure controls, handling, storage, spill response, toxicology and disposal — issued in the language your destination requires.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN2811, Class 6.1, Packing Group III declaration prepared and filed before the container is booked, with correctly marked and labelled packaging.
Certificate of Origin
Chamber-attested where required, plus preferential-origin forms where a trade agreement gives your import duty relief at the destination.
Third-party inspection
SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas sampling and inspection arranged on request before loading, giving you independent verification of what actually ships.
Retained & pre-shipment samples
Pre-shipment samples carry the same COA as the commercial lot, so what your laboratory qualifies is exactly what arrives. Retention samples held against the batch.
How this nitrobenzene is made, and where it goes
2,3-DCNB sits between two well-understood industrial steps: the nitration that makes it, and the reduction that takes it away. The routes below describe the general industrial pattern, not a process disclosure.
Start with 1,2-dichlorobenzene
Nitration of 1,2-dichlorobenzene with mixed acid (nitric/sulfuric, or nitric/phosphoric systems) installs the nitro group and gives a mixture of dichloronitrobenzene isomers.
Isolate the 2,3-isomer
Crystallisation and purification separate the 2,3-pattern from the other nitration isomers, giving the grade sold on this page.
Reduce to the aniline
Catalytic hydrogenation or chemical reduction (iron/HCl, hydrazine/catalyst) converts the nitro group to an amine, giving 2,3-dichloroaniline for downstream chemistry.
Finish to grade
The crude product is crystallised, washed and dried, then standardised or purified to whatever the end market demands — colour target, agro spec or pharmaceutical limit.
Why nitrobenzene quality carries through the whole route
The reduction step acts on the nitro group directly, and anything in the feed that competes for hydrogen or carries its own reactive functionality follows the material down the line:
- Isomeric dichloronitrobenzenes reduce in parallel and give structurally similar anilines — an off-pattern amine that is hard to separate once it is downstream.
- Catalyst poisons carried over from an under-purified nitration batch can slow or stall a hydrogenation step, wasting catalyst and reactor time.
- Residual acid or moisture affects both the reduction kinetics and the quality of the crystallised aniline that comes out of it.
- Heavy residues concentrate in the still bottoms and reduce the number of passes you get from a distillation or crystallisation train.
That chain of consequences is the reason we quote against your written specification rather than a generic "98% technical" grade, and the reason the batch COA is shared for approval before dispatch rather than sent with the invoice.
| Intermediate | Principal outlet |
|---|---|
| 2,3-Dichloronitrobenzene CAS 3209-22-1 — this product | 2,3-Dichloroaniline Dyes & pigments Fine chemical synthesis |
| 3,4-Dichloronitrobenzene CAS 99-54-7 | 3,4-Dichloroaniline Diuron, linuron, propanil |
| 2,4-Dichloronitrobenzene CAS 611-06-3 | 2,4-Dichloroaniline Dye & agro intermediates |
If your route calls for one of the others, we supply those as well — see our full range of chloronitrobenzene intermediates. Send the CAS number and we will confirm the correct material before quoting.
What actually moves the price of this intermediate
2,3-DCNB is not a commodity with a screen price. Knowing what drives the quote helps you time a purchase and read whether an offer is realistic.
Dye & agro demand cycles
Dye-house and agrochemical demand for 2,3-dichloroaniline pulls on this feedstock at different points in the season, so pricing tracks the campaign calendar of its downstream users.
- Quote early for campaign tonnage
- Spot buying at peak costs materially more
- Contracted call-off smooths the exposure
Upstream feedstock
The route back to 2,3-DCNB runs through 1,2-dichlorobenzene and the nitration chain. Movements in benzene, chlorine and nitric acid feed through to the nitrobenzene within a quarter or so.
- Chlorine and benzene set the floor
- Nitric acid and energy cost weigh on nitration
- We flag feedstock-driven moves in the quote
Isomer separation cost
Nitration gives a mixture of isomers, and the 2,3-pattern has to be isolated from the others by crystallisation. Separation yield and purity targets are a direct driver of cost per kilo.
- Tighter isomer limits cost more to hit
- We quote against your actual limit, not a padded one
- Ask about a relaxed-spec grade if it suits your process
Pack format
Cost per kilo falls from 25 kg bags to drums to jumbo bags — and for a material with organ-damage hazard statements, bulk bags also cut the number of times an operator opens a pack.
- Small bags carry the highest packing cost
- FIBC is cheapest per kilo at volume
- Less manual handling means less exposure
Freight & DG surcharges
This is regulated cargo (UN2811, Class 6.1), so ocean freight carries a hazardous surcharge and space is tighter than for general cargo. Destination and Incoterm move landed cost as much as the ex-works price does.
- Compare on landed cost, not ex-works
- DG space books out ahead of peak season
- We quote FOB, CIF, CFR or DDP as you prefer
Source availability
A plant turnaround, an environmental inspection or a monsoon disruption can take capacity offline at short notice. Single-sourced buyers feel this hardest.
- We hold a second qualified source on this line
- Qualify the alternate before you need it
- Ask us about dual-source contracts
| If your end use is… | Specify |
|---|---|
| Reduction to 2,3-dichloroaniline | High assay with tight isomer limit and controlled moisture |
| Azo dyes & pigments | Colour ceiling on the aniline after reduction, low insolubles |
| Agrochemical chain | Tight isomer limit; metals and residues reported |
| Pharmaceutical / fine chemical | Tight isomer limit; full analytical pack |
| Laboratory / R&D | Small pack, high purity, full analytical pack |
Not sure which column you are in? Describe the reaction you are running and our technical desk will recommend the grade — including telling you when a cheaper specification would do the job just as well.
Support that goes beyond shipping the bag
What our technical desk will do
- Match a grade to your reaction. Tell us the step you are running and we will recommend the specification — and say so plainly when a tighter, costlier grade would add nothing.
- Be straight about the hazard profile. We state the organ-damage and aquatic-toxicity classification at enquiry stage so your EHS team can price the controls into the decision, rather than meeting it for the first time on the label.
- Advise on handling and storage for your site conditions — a bagged store in a Gulf summer is a different problem from one in northern Europe, especially for a solid that melts at 60–64 °C.
- Review your specification before it goes into a contract, so you are not locked into a limit that no plant can consistently hit.
Regulatory & compliance notes
- Organ-toxicity obligations are jurisdiction-specific. Several regimes impose exposure monitoring, health surveillance and record retention where an H370/H373 classification applies. Confirm what applies at your site before the first delivery.
- Import controls vary by destination. Some jurisdictions apply registration, licensing or end-use declaration requirements to nitroaromatic intermediates. We check the destination rules before quoting, not after you have raised the PO.
- Chemical inventory listings differ between regions. Confirm your obligations under the applicable inventory regime for your import volume — we will supply the identity data you need for that filing.
- Environmental discharge limits commonly apply to nitroaromatics given the H411 classification. Your environmental compliance team should confirm wastewater and disposal requirements for the end use you have in mind.
None of the above is legal advice — your own regulatory affairs team owns the final compliance position for your import and your workplace. What we commit to is giving you accurate product identity data, an honest statement of the hazard classification and complete documentation to work from.
From enquiry to delivered pallet
Send the specification
Product name or CAS 3209-22-1, the assay and isomer limits you work to, quantity, pack preference and destination port.
Receive a firm quote
Pricing, lead time, packing and Incoterm confirmed in writing within 24 hours — our sourcing desk is staffed around the clock.
Qualify and approve
Sample dispatched if you are qualifying a new source. Batch COA shared for your approval before the material is released.
Ship and track
DG classification filed, freight booked, export documents issued, and the consignment tracked through transit and clearance to your plant.
Often bought alongside this grade
Consolidate several intermediates onto one shipment and one invoice. These are the nitrobenzenes, anilines and halogenated aromatics our dye, agrochemical and fine chemical customers most often order in the same programme. Every card below opens our full product catalogue, where our sourcing desk will confirm current availability against the CAS number you need.
What buyers ask us about 2,3-Dichloro Nitro Benzene
What are the hazards I need to plan for?
Can I use the 2,4- or 3,4-isomer instead?
What purity do you normally supply?
What is the minimum order quantity?
How long does delivery take?
The material arrived caked or partly fused. Is it off-spec?
Is the colour of the powder a quality issue?
How should we store it, and what is the shelf life?
Is this a dangerous good? What paperwork comes with it?
- Batch certificate of analysis
- GHS-format safety data sheet
- Dangerous-goods declaration with UN number, class and packing group
- Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading or airway bill
- Certificate of origin and any destination-specific forms
Do you supply to my country?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Can you hold stock against a production plan?
Request pricing on 2,3-Dichloro Nitro Benzene
Send your required assay, quantity, pack format and destination port. Our sourcing desk is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and comes back with pricing, lead time and packing options — whether that is a single trial bag or a contracted container programme for the year.