Chloroacetyl Chloride
Two reactive groups on one small molecule: an acyl chloride and a chlorine ready to be displaced. That is why chloroacetyl chloride earns its place in herbicide and local-anaesthetic synthesis — one reagent does an acylation and leaves a handle for the next step.
Chelora Chemicals supplies chloroacetyl chloride to agrochemical and pharmaceutical intermediate producers worldwide, in UN-approved packing, with a batch COA and GHS safety data sheet on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 79-04-9
- IUPAC name
- 2-Chloroacetyl chloride
- Molecular formula
- C₂H₂Cl₂O
- Molecular weight
- 112.94 g/mol
- EC / EINECS
- 201-171-6
- UN Number
- 1752 · Class 6.1*
- SMILES
- O=C(Cl)CCl
- HS Code
- 2915 90*
* Confirm the exact UN entry, packing group and HS heading with your freight forwarder and customs broker — classification and the shipping description can differ by mode and country.
What Chloroacetyl Chloride is used for
Chloroacetyl chloride is a colourless to pale yellow, fuming, corrosive liquid and the chlorinated cousin of acetyl chloride. Being bifunctional — an acyl chloride at one end and a reactive chloromethyl carbon at the other — it lets a single reagent install both an amide or ester linkage and a displaceable chlorine in one step, which is exactly the motif needed in several major agrochemical and pharmaceutical routes.
Its largest industrial use is as the acylating agent for chloroacetanilide herbicides such as acetochlor and alachlor, where it reacts with substituted anilines. It is also a recognised intermediate in the synthesis of lidocaine-type local anaesthetics, and is used more broadly across dye, fine-chemical and specialty-polymer intermediate synthesis wherever a bifunctional two-carbon acylating unit is needed.
Where it sits among acid chlorides
- Chloroacetyl chloride (this product) bifunctional; an acyl chloride plus a reactive chlorine on the same two-carbon unit.
- Acetyl chloride the unsubstituted parent; monofunctional and considerably less reactive downstream.
- Thionyl chloride a chlorinating reagent rather than a pre-formed acid chloride — used to make acid chlorides, not supplied as one. See that page.
- Ethyl chloroformate a chloroformate ester used for carbamate and carbonate chemistry, a different reaction class. See that page.
On an acyl chloride intermediate, confirm the CAS number and the assay method on your purchase order — see the full intermediate range.
Appearance and handling character
The material is a fuming, lachrymatory liquid that hydrolyses rapidly in moist air, releasing hydrogen chloride gas and generating heat. It is toxic by all routes of exposure — swallowed, skin contact or inhaled — and carries a severe skin and eye burns classification. Moisture exclusion, sealed transfer and respiratory protection are the three practical requirements on this product.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless to pale yellow fuming liquid |
| Assay (GC) | 98.0% min |
| Boiling point | 105 – 106 °C |
| Free acidity (as HCl) | 0.3% max |
| Moisture | 0.1% max |
| Colour (APHA) | 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. Assay and colour carry straight into downstream herbicide or pharma-intermediate purity — tell us your target and we will quote against it.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Fuming liquid at ambient |
| Melting point | −22 °C |
| Density | 1.42 g/mL (20 °C) |
| Water reaction | Rapid hydrolysis — generates HCl |
| Flash point | ~100 °C (non-flammable by DOT) |
| Incompatibilities | Water, alcohols, amines, strong oxidisers |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 79-04-9 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this intermediate to work
One very large agrochemical application and several steady pharma and fine-chemical uses — the bifunctional reactivity is what makes this reagent versatile.
Chloroacetanilide herbicide intermediates
Acylates substituted anilines to build the herbicide family that includes acetochlor and alachlor — the dominant global use.
- End-use declaration typical
- Colour and acidity critical
- Contracted tonnage available
Local-anaesthetic intermediates
Used in the synthesis of lidocaine-type and related amide local anaesthetics as a key acylating step.
- Pharma-grade specification available
- Full impurity profile supplied
- Heavy-metal limits on request
Dye & fine-chemical intermediates
A bifunctional building block used wherever an acylation step needs to leave a displaceable chlorine for a following reaction.
- Colour-critical supply available
- Technical desk review of your route
- See our full intermediate range
Specialty polymer & coating chemistry
Used to introduce reactive chloroacetyl functionality onto cellulose and other polymer substrates.
- Technical-grade specification
- Bulk quantities available
- Process-fit review on request
Research & process development
Small-scale use in route scouting and analytical reference work, with the same documentation as the commercial lot.
- Packs from 500 mL
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Contract & scheduled supply
Agrochemical plants consume this seasonally and continuously. We hold inventory and release it against your production calendar.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Chloroacetyl Chloride
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. On a water-reactive, toxic acid chloride, owning no plant means we are never defending a batch with drifted acidity — we route your order to the producer whose packing and turnaround actually matches what your process needs.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your assay, your colour and acidity limits, your price point and your delivery window.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, because herbicide-season demand is highly seasonal and a single plant's turnaround can tighten supply quickly at peak times.
- Assay and colour confirmed by GC before we quote. On this intermediate both carry into herbicide and pharma-intermediate quality, and we state them on the COA rather than leave it to inference.
- Free acidity reported. Residual HCl shifts reaction stoichiometry and corrodes equipment if not accounted for.
- We ask what it feeds before we quote. Herbicide-chain supply and pharma-intermediate use carry different documentation expectations.
- Packing specified for moisture exclusion. This is a specification point on a water-reactive liquid, not packaging detail.
- Toxicity and Inhalation Hazard Zone stated up front. Said at enquiry stage so your EHS team can plan containment before the first drum arrives.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
Packed the way your plant receives it
On a water-reactive, fuming liquid the pack is doing chemistry as well as containment. Tell us how the material will be charged and we will quote the format that keeps moisture out.
Lined steel drums
UN-approved, corrosion-resistant lined drums with sealed closures — the standard commercial format for bulk transfer.
Nitrogen-blanketed packing
Available where moisture exposure in transit is a concern, particularly on long sea legs into humid destinations.
Bulk liquid transport
For contracted, seasonal herbicide-chain tonnage, ISO tank containers reduce handling and packaging cost per tonne.
Trial / sample quantities
Small, sealed, DG-compliant containers dispatched so your R&D team can qualify the grade before committing to larger volumes.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with DG documentation filed before the booking is made.
Campaign despatch
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your production calendar — worth doing ahead of a seasonal herbicide manufacturing peak.
Moisture exclusion and respiratory protection are the controlling routes
Chloroacetyl chloride is severely corrosive, toxic by all routes of exposure, and reacts rapidly with water. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your consignment is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H301+H311+H331Toxic if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled.H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.H372Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.H400Very toxic to aquatic life.EUH014Reacts violently with water.EUH029Contact with water liberates toxic gas.
Hazard statements reflect classifications commonly published for CAS 79-04-9. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch.
Spill & emergency orientation
Plan your response before the pallet arrives. Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the SDS are the authoritative instructions and should be posted at the point of use.
- Never apply water directly to a spill. It hydrolyses rapidly, releasing heat and HCl gas — use dry absorbent or a designated dry-quench procedure instead.
- Evacuate and ventilate before re-entry. Fuming and toxic gas release make this a respiratory hazard well beyond the immediate spill area.
- Contain, do not hose to drain. H400 applies — collect the material and dispose of it as regulated chemical waste under controlled neutralisation.
- Treat contaminated clothing as waste. Remove it immediately, bag it and handle it as contaminated waste rather than sending it to an ordinary laundry.
- Treat any skin or eye contact as an emergency. H314 means irrigate immediately and seek medical attention without delay.
Storage
- Cool, dry, access-controlled store. Moisture ingress is the single biggest risk on this product — it hydrolyses the material and generates gas.
- Keep containers tightly closed under dry conditions. A part-used drum left open in humid air will visibly fume and corrode its own closure.
- Segregate from water, alcohols, amines and oxidisers. All react exothermically; keep them apart by distance, not just by label.
- Avoid contact with reactive metals. Corrodes many common metals in the presence of trace moisture, which is why container material matters.
- Shelf life typically 12–24 months. Re-assay and check colour and acidity before use after extended storage.
Handling & PPE
- Design vapour and skin contact out. Closed transfer under dry nitrogen, contained charging and local exhaust ventilation first; PPE last, never as the sole control.
- Acid-resistant gloves, face shield and chemical-resistant suit. With contaminated clothing removed, bagged and handled as contaminated waste.
- Supplied-air or full-face respiratory protection. Required for any operation where fuming or vapour release is possible — this is a lachrymator with a toxic-by-inhalation classification.
- Emergency shower and eyewash within reach. Given the severe-burns classification, immediate irrigation access is not optional.
- Never discharge to drain or watercourse. H400 applies — contain and dispose of as regulated chemical waste.
Transport
Chloroacetyl chloride ships as regulated cargo under UN 1752, Class 6.1 (Toxic) with a Class 8 corrosive subsidiary risk, Packing Group I, Inhalation Hazard Zone B. We classify each consignment, apply UN-approved packaging and labelling, and file the dangerous-goods declaration before the booking is made — 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, free acidity, moisture and colour — checked against your specification before release.
GHS Safety Data Sheet
Full 16-section SDS in GHS format covering hazards, exposure controls, handling, storage, spill response, toxicology and disposal, in the language your destination requires.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN number, hazard class, subsidiary risk and IMDG or RID/ADR declaration prepared and filed before the container is booked.
Analytical method & chromatogram
GC method and batch chromatogram on request, so your QC can reproduce the impurity profile rather than take it on trust.
Certificate of Origin
Chamber-attested where required, plus preferential-origin forms where a trade agreement gives your import duty relief.
Retained & pre-shipment samples
Pre-shipment samples carry the same COA as the commercial lot, so what your laboratory qualifies is exactly what arrives.
Two reactive sites, one small molecule
The acyl chloride reacts first and fast with amines and alcohols; the remaining chlorine stays behind as a handle for a second substitution. The pattern below is general background, not a process disclosure.
Manufacture from chloroacetic acid
Industrially made from chloroacetic acid by reaction with a chlorinating agent such as thionyl chloride or phosphorus trichloride.
Acylate the amine
Downstream, the acyl chloride end reacts selectively and rapidly with an aniline or other amine to form the amide bond.
Leave the chloromethyl handle
The remaining carbon-chlorine bond stays intact through the acylation, ready for a following substitution step.
Displace the second chlorine
A nucleophile such as an alkoxide or amine then displaces the remaining chlorine to complete the target molecule.
Why assay and acidity carry through
On this intermediate, two drums at the same nominal label can give very different downstream results:
- Assay sets your stoichiometry. A reagent used off a nominal percentage will under- or over-react if the real titre has drifted from the label.
- Free acidity signals partial hydrolysis. Elevated HCl content means some of the reagent has already reacted with trace moisture before it reaches your process.
- Colour carries into the finished intermediate. Degraded material produces coloured by-products that can persist through the acylation step.
- Moisture content is a stability specification. A wetter lot loses active reagent faster in storage, not just at the point of use.
That is why we quote against your written assay and acidity limits rather than a generic "technical grade", and why the batch COA is shared for approval before dispatch rather than sent with the invoice.
| Material | Role |
|---|---|
| Chloroacetyl chloride CAS 79-04-9 — this product | Bifunctional acylating agent |
| Thionyl chloride CAS 7719-09-7 | Makes acid chlorides in situ |
| Ethyl chloroformate CAS 541-41-3 | Carbamate / carbonate formation |
| 2-Amino-4-nitrophenol CAS 99-57-0 | Separate dye-chain intermediate |
We supply across this intermediate family — see the full intermediate range. Send the CAS number and we will confirm the correct material before quoting.
What actually moves the price of this product
Knowing what drives the quote helps you time a purchase and read whether an offer is realistic.
Chloroacetic acid & chlorine feedstock
Production depends on chloroacetic acid and a chlorinating agent, so acetic acid, chlorine and chlor-alkali markets feed through.
- Acetic acid tracks petrochemical cost
- Chlorine follows chlor-alkali economics
- We flag feedstock-driven moves in the quote
Herbicide-season demand
Chloroacetanilide herbicide manufacture is strongly seasonal, tied to planting cycles in the major agricultural regions.
- Demand peaks ahead of planting season
- Contracted call-off smooths the exposure
- We hold a second qualified source
Colour and purity specification
A technical herbicide-chain grade and a tightly specified pharma-intermediate grade are different products from the same plant at different prices.
- Tell us the real limits, not a wish list
- We will say when a wider spec will do
- Over-specification is the commonest cost leak
Freight and DG surcharges
Class 6.1 PG I cargo with a corrosive subsidiary risk carries a significant hazardous surcharge, and inert-blanketed packing adds cost on top.
- 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 concentration
Production is concentrated in a small number of regions tied to herbicide manufacturing complexes, so plant turnarounds move the market.
- We hold a second qualified source on this line
- Qualify the alternate before you need it
- Ask us about dual-source contracts
Shelf life and inventory risk
A water-reactive liquid with a 12 to 24 month shelf life means stockpiling against a price move carries a real degradation cost.
- Buy to schedule rather than to price
- We hold inventory and release on call-off
- Ask about scheduled despatch
| If your end use is… | Specify |
|---|---|
| Chloroacetanilide herbicide chain | Technical grade, contracted call-off |
| Pharma / local-anaesthetic intermediate | Low colour, full impurity profile |
| Dye / fine-chemical intermediate | Colour-critical |
| Polymer / coating chemistry | Technical grade |
| Laboratory / reference use | Small DG-compliant pack, full COA |
Not sure which row you are in? Describe what you make from it 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 drum
What our technical desk will do
- Confirm colour and acidity limits before anything else. On this intermediate both carry into downstream yield and quality, and we settle them in the first reply.
- Ask what it feeds. Herbicide-chain supply and pharma-intermediate use carry different documentation expectations.
- Recommend packing for your climate and transit. Inert blanketing is worth the cost on some routes and unnecessary on others, and we will say which.
- Be straight about the toxicity classification. Stated at enquiry stage so your EHS team can plan containment before the first delivery.
Regulatory & compliance notes
- Agrochemical end use may trigger registration questions downstream. Confirm your own product's registration status with your regulatory affairs team.
- Import controls vary by destination. We check destination rules before quoting, not after you have raised the PO.
- Chemical inventory listings differ between regions. We will supply the identity data you need for that filing.
- Effluent and waste rules matter. H400 applies — check your discharge consent against the material before introducing it to site.
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 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 79-04-9, your assay, colour and acidity limits, 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
Classification filed, DG freight booked, export documents issued, and the consignment tracked through transit and clearance.
What buyers ask us about Chloroacetyl Chloride
What is chloroacetyl chloride used for?
Is it the same thing as acetyl chloride?
What purity do you normally supply?
Is it hazardous?
What is the minimum order quantity?
How should we store it?
Is this a dangerous good? What paperwork comes with it?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Request pricing on Chloroacetyl Chloride
Send your required assay, colour and acidity limits, 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.