Allyl chloride

Allyl chloride is the organic compound with the formula CH₂=CHCH₂Cl. This colorless liquid is insoluble in water but soluble in common organic solvents. It is mainly converted to epichlorohydrin, used in the production of plastics. It is a chlorinated derivative of propylene. It is an alkylating agent, which makes it both useful and hazardous to handle.^[4]

Allyl chloride

Names
Preferred IUPAC name 3-Chloroprop-1-ene
Other names 3-Chloropropene 1-Chloro-2-propene[1] 3-Chloropropylene[1]
Identifiers
CAS Number	107-05-1 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:82379
ChEMBL	ChEMBL451126 Y
ChemSpider	13836674 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.003.144
EC Number	209-675-8
KEGG	C19316
PubChem CID	7850
RTECS number	UC7350000
UNII	V2RFT0R50S N
UN number	1100
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID4039231
InChI InChI=1S/C3H5Cl/c1-2-3-4/h2H,1,3H2 Y Key: OSDWBNJEKMUWAV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C3H5Cl/c1-2-3-4/h2H,1,3H2 Key: OSDWBNJEKMUWAV-UHFFFAOYAQ
SMILES C=CCCl
Properties
Chemical formula	C3H5Cl
Molar mass	76.52 g·mol−1
Appearance	Colorless, brown, yellow, or purple liquid[1]
Odor	pungent, unpleasant[1]
Density	0.94 g/mL
Melting point	−135 °C (−211 °F; 138 K)
Boiling point	45 °C (113 °F; 318 K)
Solubility in water	0.36 g/100 ml (20 °C)
Solubility	soluble in ether, acetone, benzene, chloroform
Vapor pressure	295 mmHg[1]
Refractive index (nD)	1.4055
Viscosity	0.3130 mPa·s[2]
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Danger
Hazard statements	H225, H302, H312, H315, H319, H332, H335, H341, H351, H373, H400
Precautionary statements	P201, P202, P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P260, P261, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P281, P301+P312, P302+P352, P303+P361+P353, P304+P312, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P308+P313, P312, P314, P321, P322, P330, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P363, P370+P378, P391, P403+P233, P403+P235, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)	3 3 1
Flash point	−32 °C (−26 °F; 241 K)
Autoignition temperature	390 °C (734 °F; 663 K)
Explosive limits	2.9–11.2%
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LC50 (median concentration)	11000 mg/m3 (rat, 2 hr) 11500 mg/m3 (mouse, 2 hr) 5800 mg/m3 (guinea pig, 2 hr) 22500 mg/m3 (rabbit, 2 hr) 10500 mg/m3 (cat, 2 hr)[3]
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)	TWA 1 ppm (3 mg/m3)[1]
REL (Recommended)	TWA 1 ppm (3 mg/m3) ST 2 ppm (6 mg/m3)[1]
IDLH (Immediate danger)	250 ppm[1]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Production

Laboratory scale

Allyl chloride was first produced in 1857 by Auguste Cahours and August Hofmann by reacting allyl alcohol with phosphorus trichloride.^[5][4] Modern preparation protocols economize this approach, replacing relatively expensive phosphorus trichloride with hydrochloric acid and a catalyst such as copper(I) chloride.^[6]

Industrial scale

Allyl chloride is produced by the chlorination of propylene. At lower temperatures, the main product is 1,2-dichloropropane, but at 500 °C, allyl chloride predominates, being formed via a free radical reaction:

CH₃CH=CH₂ + Cl₂ → ClCH₂CH=CH₂ + HCl

An estimated 800,000 tonnes were produced this way in 1997.^[4]

Reactions and uses

The great majority of allyl chloride is converted to epichlorohydrin.^[4] Other commercially significant derivatives include allyl alcohol, allylamine, allyl isothiocyanate (synthetic mustard oil),^[7] and 1-bromo-3-chloropropane.

As an alkylating agent, it is useful in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and pesticides, such as mustard oil.

Illustrative reactions

Illustrative of its reactivity is its cyanation to allyl cyanide (CH₂=CHCH₂CN).^[8] Being a reactive alkyl halide, it undergoes reductive coupling to give diallyl:^[9]

2 ClCH₂CH=CH₂ + Mg → (CH₂)₂(CH=CH₂)₂ + MgCl₂

It undergoes oxidative addition to palladium(0) to give allylpalladium chloride dimer, (C₃H₅)₂Pd₂Cl₂. Dehydrohalogenation gives cyclopropene.

Safety

Allyl chloride is highly toxic and flammable. Eye effects may be delayed and may lead to possible impairment of vision.^[10]

See also

• Allyl
• Allyl bromide
• Allyl iodide

External links

• International Chemical Safety Card 0010
• NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0018". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
• IARC Monograph *Allyl chloride.