General Description
A colorless liquid with a pungent odor. Flash point of 50°F. Corrosive and very irritating to skin and eyes. Used to make other chemicals.
Reactivity Profile
Acid halides, such as PROPIONYL CHLORIDE(79-03-8), are water reactive; some are violently reactive. They are incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, alcohols, amines, and alkali. 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. Vigorously reacts with water to form propionic acid and hydrochloric acid [Merck 11th ed. 1989].
Hazard
Strong irritant to skin.
Health Hazard
May cause toxic effects if inhaled or ingested/swallowed. Contact with substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution.
Fire Hazard
Flammable/combustible material. May be ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Vapors may form explosive mixtures with air. Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Most vapors are heavier than air. They will spread along ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks). Vapor explosion hazard indoors, outdoors or in sewers. Runoff to sewer may create fire or explosion hazard. Containers may explode when heated. Many liquids are lighter than water.
Chemical Properties
clear liquid
Application
Propionyl chloride is used for the introduction of the propionyl group and for the synthesis of propionate esters because of its high reactivity. It is an chemical intermediate in the preparation of various propionic acid derivatives, It can also be used:
To convert anisole to 4-methoxypropiophenone and 2-methoxynaphthalene to 1-propio-2-methoxynaphthalene in the presence of Indium(III) chloride (InCl3) impregnated mesoporous Si-MCM-41 catalyst.
For chlorination in the presence of sulfuryl chloride and peroxides to form α-chloropropionyl chloride and β-chloropropionyl chloride.
In reaction with (hydroxypropyl)cellulose to form the propanoate ester, [(propionyloxy)propyl]cellulose.
Preparation
Propionyl chloride is synthesized by reacting propionic acid with phosphorus trichloride at 40-50°C for 1h, cooling, standing, separating and distilling to obtain the product.
CH3CH2COOH+PCl3→CH3CH2COCl+HOPCl2
Propionyl chloride is industrially produced by chlorination of propionic acid with phosgene:
CH3CH2CO2H + COCl2 → CH3CH2COCl + HCl + CO2
Flammability and Explosibility
Highlyflammable
