2,3-Dichloropropionaldehyde is used for undergoes condensation reactions, ene reactions, 1,2-additions; α-chloro nitrone precursor.
2,3-Dichloropropionaldehyde is best prepared by bubbling an equimolar amount of dry Chlorine gas
into neat Acrolein at 5 °C.[1] The reaction temperature thereby rises spontaneously and is kept at 40 °C until
the reaction has ended. Spinning band distillation at reduced pressure (12 mmHg) affords pure 2,3-
dichloropropionaldehyde as a colorless liquid in 65% yield.
As 2,3-Dichloropropionaldehyde is prone to polymerization it should be used as prepared
for best results. For a limited time it can be stored under nitrogen at 5 °C in tightly sealed bottles. Use in a
fume hood.
1. (a) Shostakovskii, M. F.; Annenkova, V. Z.; Ivanova, L. T.; Ugryumova, G. S. IZV 1967, 6, 104 (CA 1968, 69,
51 483s). (b) Andreeva, I. V.; Koton, M. M.; Akopova, A. N.; Kukarkina, N. V. ZOR 1975, 11, 954 (CA 1975, 83,
42 773y).
