2-Chloro-3-methylpyridine is an intermediate for many medicines and pesticides, such as fluazifop, nicosulfuron, and fluazifop. Moreover, with the gradual promotion of these new high-efficiency and low-toxic heterocyclic pesticides, 2-chloro-3-methylpyridine is increasing. The industrial method for preparing 2-chloro-3-methylpyridine is to obtain it by site-specific chlorination of 3-methylpyridine. First, 3-methylpyridine is epoxidized and then chlorinated. The main chlorinated 3-methylpyridine is a mixture of 2-chloro-3-methylpyridine and 2-chloro-5-methylpyridine, of which 2-chloro-3-methylpyridine accounts for 20% (mass).
2-Chloro-3-methylpyridine is an active ingredient and a major constituent of imidaclopide, a systemic insecticide that acts as insect neurotoxin and belongs to a class of chemical called the neonicotinoids.
