General Description
A colorless volatile liquid with a strong odor. Denser than water. Contact may severely irritate skin, eyes and mucous membranes. May be toxic by ingestion. May also be combustible.
Reactivity Profile
PHENYLACETYL CHLORIDE(103-80-0) is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, alcohols, bases (including amines). May react vigorously or explosively if mixed with diisopropyl ether or other ethers in the presence of trace amounts of metal salts [J. Haz. Mat., 1981, 4, 291].
Air & Water Reactions
Soluble in water. Fumes in air. Decomposes in water or steam to form very corrosive hydrogen chloride gas.
Health Hazard
TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion or contact (skin, eyes) with vapors, dusts or substance may cause severe injury, burns or death. Contact with molten substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Reaction with water or moist air will release toxic, corrosive or flammable gases. Reaction with water may generate much heat that will increase the concentration of fumes in the air. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may be corrosive and/or toxic and cause pollution.
Fire Hazard
Combustible material: may burn but does not ignite readily. Substance will react with water (some violently) releasing flammable, toxic or corrosive gases and runoff. When heated, vapors may form explosive mixtures with air: indoors, outdoors and sewers explosion hazards. Most vapors are heavier than air. They will spread along ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks). Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Containers may explode when heated or if contaminated with water.
Chemical Properties
colourless liquid
Uses
Phenylacetyl chloride is used in the preparation of 1,2-diphenyl-ethanone by reaction with iodobenzene using tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate as a phase transfer catalyst. It is widely used in the chemical industry for manufacturing dyes and pharmaceutical products. It plays an important role in the preparation of penicillin. Further, it is used to prepare esters for flavorings.
Synthesis Reference(s)
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 96, p. 6469, 1974
DOI: 10.1021/ja00827a034Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 2, p. 156, 1943
