General Description
A colorless volatile liquid with a strong odor. Denser than water. Contact severely irritates skin, eyes and mucous membranes. May be very toxic by ingestion and inhalation. May be combustible.
Reactivity Profile
TRICHLOROACETYL CHLORIDE is incompatible with water, 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].
Health Hazard
Highly toxic by ingestion and inhalation; strong irritant to skin and tissues.
Potential Exposure
Used in chemical syntheses.
Fire Hazard
Material may burn but does not ignite readily. Poisonous if inhaled or swallowed; skin contact poisonous. Contact may cause burns to skin and eyes.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions,including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. If victim is conscious, administer water, or milk. Do not induce vomiting.
Shipping
UN2442 Trichloroacetyl chloride, Hazard class: 8; Labels: 8-Corrosive material, 6.1-Poisonous materials.
Incompatibilities
Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides, ethers and metal salts. Violent reaction with water, forming hydrochloric acid and trichloroacetic acid.
Chemical Properties
Trichloroacetyl chloride is similar to dichloroacetyl chloride. It is a clear colourless liquid. Decomposes in water; soluble in alcohol.The acid chloride can be hydrolyzed at 75 – 85°C with water to form the free acid and hydrolyzed with ammonium hydroxide or concentrated sodium carbonate solution to form the salts.
Waste Disposal
Do not discharge into drains or sewers. Consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices. Generators of waste containing this contaminant (≥100 kg/mo) must conform with EPA regulations governing storage, transportation, treatment, and waste disposal. Controlled incineration (oxides of nitrogen are removed from the effluent gas by scrubbers and/or thermal devices) Must be disposed properly by following package label directions or by contacting your local or federal environmental control agency, or by contacting your regional EPA office.
Uses
Trichloroacetyl chloride can be used for the manufacture of the esters and the anhydrides of trichloroacetic acid.It was used in the preparation of dihydro-1H-benzindoles. It was also used in the synthesis of 3-alkylbenzoxazolones.
Preparation
The acetyl chloride is prepared from trichloroacetic acid and various inorganic acid chlorides (e.g., SOCl2, PCl3) or with P2O5 and HCl. More useful methods are the oxidation of tetrachloroethylene with fuming sulfuric acid, oxygen, or fuming nitric acid and sulfuric acid at 18-20°C, or from the reaction of pentachloroethane and dry oxygen under UV light. It has been obtained in 37 % yield from carbon tetrachloride and carbon monoxide in the presence of aluminum chloride at 200°C and high pressure.The most common production method is the gas-phase, photochemical oxidation of tetrachloroethylene with oxygen. The reaction is initiated with UV light, with radioactive irradiation, or it is sensitized with chlorine or iodine.
