General Description
A clear colorless volatile liquid with a pungent irritating odor. About the same density as water and insoluble in water. Floats on water Flash point 75°F. Very irritating to skin and eyes and very toxic by inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption. Used to make other chemicals.
Reactivity Profile
ISOPROPYL CHLOROFORMATE(108-23-6) is water reactive. A sample stored in a refrigerator exploded [Wischmeyer 1973]. Attacks many metals especially in humid atmosphere [Handling Chemicals Safely, 1980. p. 476]. 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
Highly flammable. Gives off HCl fumes in moist air. Insoluble in water. Decomposes slowly in water forming isopropyl alcohol, HCl, and CO2.
Hazard
Toxic by inhalation.
Health Hazard
Acute: highly toxic by inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption. Delayed: can produce delayed pulmonary edema (2-24 hours after exposure) similar to that produced by phosgene. Inhalation of material may cause death or permanent injury.
Fire Hazard
Extremely dangerous; this chemical has exploded while stored in refrigerator. Vapor explosion hazard indoors, outdoors or in sewers. Runoff to sewer may create fire or explosion hazard. Like other chlorides, when heated to decomposition or on contact with acids or acrid fumes, they evolve highly toxic chloride fumes. Reacts violently with phosgene. Unstable, avoid phosgene
Chemical Properties
Clear colorless solution
Production Methods
Prepared by the reaction of liquid anhydrous isopropyl
alcohol with molar excess of dry, chlorine-free phosgene
at low temperature.
