General Description
A colorless liquid with an ethereal odor. Combustible. Flash point 176°F. Corrosive to metals and tissue. Used to make other chemicals.
Reactivity Profile
METHYL DICHLOROACETATE(116-54-1) produces toxic fumes of phosgene and HCl when heated [USCG, 1999].
Air & Water Reactions
Decomposed by water to dichloroacetic acid, a corrosive material with evolution of heat [USCG, 1999].
Hazard
Strong irritant to tissue. Forms corrosiveproducts on hydrolysis, keep dry.
Health Hazard
Extremely destructive to the eyes, nose, throat, and upper respiratory tract. May be fatal as a result of spasm, inflammation and edema of the larynx and bronchi, chemical pneumonitis, and pulmonary edema. Symptoms of exposure include burning sensation, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, and vomiting.
Fire Hazard
Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Produces toxic fumes of phosgene and HCl.
Chemical Properties
clear colorless liquid
Synthesis Reference(s)
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 90, p. 5307, 1968
DOI: 10.1021/ja01021a065The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 28, p. 1133, 1963