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Names | |||
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Preferred IUPAC name 2-(Chloromethyl)oxirane | |||
Other names (Chloromethyl)oxirane Epichlorohydrin 1-Chloro-2,3-epoxypropane γ-Chloropropylene oxide Glycidyl chloride ECH | |||
Identifiers | |||
3D model (JSmol) | |||
79785 | |||
ChEBI | |||
ChEMBL | |||
ChemSpider | |||
ECHA InfoCard | 100.003.128 | ||
EC Number |
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164180 | |||
KEGG | |||
PubChem CID | |||
RTECS number |
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UNII | |||
UN number | 2023 | ||
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |||
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Properties | |||
C3H5ClO | |||
Molar mass | 92.52 g/mol | ||
Appearance | colorless liquid | ||
Odor | garlic or chloroform-like | ||
Density | 1.1812 g/cm3 | ||
Melting point | −25.6 °C (−14.1 °F; 247.6 K) | ||
Boiling point | 117.9 °C (244.2 °F; 391.0 K) | ||
7% (20°C) [2] | |||
Vapor pressure | 13 mmHg (20°C) [2] | ||
Hazards | |||
GHS labelling: | |||
Danger | |||
H226, H301, H311, H314, H317, H331, H350 | |||
P201, P202, P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P260, P261, P264, P270, P271, P272, P280, P281, P301+P310, P301+P330+P331, P302+P352, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P308+P313, P310, P311, P312, P321, P322, P330, P333+P313, P361, P363, P370+P378, P403+P233, P403+P235, P405, P501 | |||
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |||
Flash point | 32 °C (90 °F; 305 K) | ||
Explosive limits | 3.8–21% [2] | ||
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |||
LC50 (median concentration) | 3617 ppm (rat, 1 hr) 2165 ppm (rat, 1 hr) 250 ppm (rat, 8 hr) 244 ppm (rat, 8 hr) 360 ppm (rat, 6 hr) [3] | ||
LCLo (lowest published) | 250 ppm (rat, 4 hr) [3] | ||
NIOSH (US health exposure limits): | |||
PEL (Permissible) | TWA 5 ppm (19 mg/m3) [skin] [2] | ||
REL (Recommended) | Carcinogen [2] | ||
IDLH (Immediate danger) | Ca [75 ppm] [2] | ||
Safety data sheet (SDS) | External MSDS | ||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). |
Epichlorohydrin (abbreviated ECH) is an organochlorine compound and an epoxide. Despite its name, it is not a halohydrin. It is a colorless liquid with a pungent, garlic-like odor, moderately soluble in water, but miscible with most polar organic solvents. [4] It is a chiral molecule generally existing as a racemic mixture of right-handed and left-handed enantiomers. Epichlorohydrin is a highly reactive electrophilic compound and is used in the production of glycerol, plastics, epoxy glues and resins, epoxy diluents and elastomers.
Epichlorohydrin is traditionally manufactured from allyl chloride in two steps, beginning with the addition of hypochlorous acid, which affords a mixture of two isomeric alcohols: [5] [6]
In the second step, this mixture is treated with base to give the epoxide:
In this way, more than 800,000 tons (1997) of epichlorohydrin are produced annually. [7]
Epichlorohydrin was first described in 1848 by Marcellin Berthelot. The compound was isolated during studies on reactions between glycerol and gaseous hydrogen chloride. [8]
Reminiscent of Berthelot's experiment, glycerol-to-epichlorohydrin (GTE) plants have been commercialized. This technology capitalizes on the availability of cheap glycerol from biofuels processing. [9] In the process developed by Dow Chemical, glycerol undergoes two substitution reactions when treated with hydrogen chloride in the presence of a carboxylic acid catalyst. This is the same intermediate formed in the allyl chloride/hypochlorous acid process, and is likewise then treated with base to form epichlorohydrin. [10]
Routes that involve fewer chlorinated intermediates have continued to attract interest. One such process entails epoxidation of allyl chloride. [11]
Epichlorohydrin is mainly converted to bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, a building block in the manufacture of epoxy resins. [12] It is also a precursor to monomers for other resins and polymers. Another usage is the conversion to synthetic glycerol. However, the rapid increase in biodiesel production, where glycerol is a waste product, has led to a glut of glycerol on the market, rendering this process uneconomical. Synthetic glycerol is now used only in sensitive pharmaceutical, and biotech applications where quality standards are very high. [13]
Epichlorohydrin is a versatile precursor in the synthesis of many organic compounds. For example, it is converted to glycidyl nitrate, an energetic binder used in explosive and propellant compositions. [14] The epichlorohydrin is reacted with an alkali nitrate, such as sodium nitrate, producing glycidyl nitrate and alkali chloride. It is used as a solvent for cellulose, resins, and paints, and it has found use as an insect fumigant. [15]
Polymers made from epichlorohydrin, e.g., polyamide-epichlorohydrin resins, are used in paper reinforcement and in the food industry to manufacture tea bags, coffee filters, and sausage/salami casings as well as with water purification. [16]
An important biochemical application of epichlorohydrin is its use as crosslinking agent for the production of Sephadex size-exclusion chromatographic resins from dextrans. [17]
Epichlorohydrin is classified by several international health research agencies and groups as a probable or likely carcinogen in humans. [18] [19] [20] Prolonged oral consumption of high levels of epichlorohydrin could result in stomach problems and an increased risk of cancer. [21] Occupational exposure to epichlorohydrin via inhalation could result in lung irritation and an increased risk of lung cancer. [22]
Tetrahydrofuran (THF), or oxolane, is an organic compound with the formula (CH2)4O. The compound is classified as heterocyclic compound, specifically a cyclic ether. It is a colorless, water-miscible organic liquid with low viscosity. It is mainly used as a precursor to polymers. Being polar and having a wide liquid range, THF is a versatile solvent. It is an isomer of another solvent, butanone.
In organic chemistry, an epoxide is a cyclic ether, where the ether forms a three-atom ring: two atoms of carbon and one atom of oxygen. This triangular structure has substantial ring strain, making epoxides highly reactive, more so than other ethers. They are produced on a large scale for many applications. In general, low molecular weight epoxides are colourless and nonpolar, and often volatile.
Allyl chloride is the organic compound with the formula CH2=CHCH2Cl. This colorless liquid is insoluble in water but soluble in common organic solvents. It is mainly converted to epichlorohydrin, used in the production of plastics. It is a chlorinated derivative of propylene. It is an alkylating agent, which makes it both useful and hazardous to handle.
In organic chemistry a halohydrin is a functional group in which a halogen and a hydroxyl are bonded to adjacent carbon atoms, which otherwise bear only hydrogen or hydrocarbyl groups. The term only applies to saturated motifs, as such compounds like 2-chlorophenol would not normally be considered halohydrins. Megatons of some chlorohydrins, e.g. propylene chlorohydrin, are produced annually as precursors to polymers.
Chlorobenzene (abbreviated PhCl) is an aryl chloride and the simplest of the chlorobenzenes, consisting of a benzene ring substituted with one chlorine atom. Its chemical formula is C6H5Cl. This colorless, flammable liquid is a common solvent and a widely used intermediate in the manufacture of other chemicals.
Diethylenetriamine (abbreviated Dien or DETA) and also known as 2,2’-Iminodi(ethylamine)) is an organic compound with the formula HN(CH2CH2NH2)2. This colourless hygroscopic liquid is soluble in water and polar organic solvents, but not simple hydrocarbons. Diethylenetriamine is structural analogue of diethylene glycol. Its chemical properties resemble those for ethylene diamine, and it has similar uses. It is a weak base and its aqueous solution is alkaline. DETA is a byproduct of the production of ethylenediamine from ethylene dichloride.
Allyl alcohol is an organic compound with the structural formula CH2=CHCH2OH. Like many alcohols, it is a water-soluble, colourless liquid. It is more toxic than typical small alcohols. Allyl alcohol is used as a precursor to many specialized compounds such as flame-resistant materials, drying oils, and plasticizers. Allyl alcohol is the smallest representative of the allylic alcohols.
2-Chloroethanol (also called ethylene chlorohydrin or glycol chlorohydrin) is an organic chemical compound with the chemical formula HOCH2CH2Cl and the simplest beta-halohydrin (chlorohydrin). This colorless liquid has a pleasant ether-like odor. It is miscible with water. The molecule is bifunctional, consisting of both an alkyl chloride and an alcohol functional group.
Methacrylic acid, abbreviated MAA, is an organic compound with the formula CH2=C(CH3)CO2H. This colorless, viscous liquid is a carboxylic acid with an acrid unpleasant odor. It is soluble in warm water and miscible with most organic solvents. Methacrylic acid is produced industrially on a large scale as a precursor to its esters, especially methyl methacrylate (MMA), and to poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).
2-Ethylhexanol is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH3CH2CH2CH2CH(CH2CH3)CH2OH. It is a branched, eight-carbon chiral alcohol. It is a colorless liquid that is poorly soluble in water but soluble in most organic solvents. It is produced on a large scale (>2,000,000,000 kg/y) for use in numerous applications such as solvents, flavors, and fragrances and especially as a precursor for production of other chemicals such as emollients and plasticizers. It is encountered in plants, fruits, and wines. The odor has been reported as "heavy, earthy, and slightly floral" for the R enantiomer and "a light, sweet floral fragrance" for the S enantiomer.
Synthetic resins are industrially produced resins, typically viscous substances that convert into rigid polymers by the process of curing. In order to undergo curing, resins typically contain reactive end groups, such as acrylates or epoxides. Some synthetic resins have properties similar to natural plant resins, but many do not.
Glycidol is an organic compound with the formula HOCH2CHOCH2. The molecule contains both epoxide and alcohol functional groups. Being simple to make and bifunctional, it has a variety of industrial uses. The compound is a colorless, slightly viscous liquid that is slightly unstable and is not often encountered in pure form.
2-Cyanoguanidine is a nitrile derived from guanidine. It is a dimer of cyanamide, from which it can be prepared. 2-Cyanoguanidine is a colourless solid that is soluble in water, acetone, and alcohol, but not nonpolar organic solvents.
Trimethylolpropane (TMP) is the organic compound with the formula CH3CH2C(CH2OH)3. This colourless to white solid with a faint odor is a triol. Containing three hydroxy functional groups, TMP is a widely used building block in the polymer industry.
Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether is an organic compound and is a liquid epoxy resin. The compound is a colorless viscous liquid. It is a key component of many epoxy resin formulations. Addition of further Bisphenol A and a catalyst and heat can produce Bisphenol A glycidyl ether epoxy resins of higher molecular weight that are solid.
Allyl acetate is an organic compound with formula C3H5OC(O)CH3. This colourless liquid is a precursor to especially allyl alcohol, which is a useful industrial intermediate. It is the acetate ester of allyl alcohol.
Allyl glycidyl ether is an organic compound used in adhesives and sealants and as a monomer for polymerization reactions. It is formally the condensation product of allyl alcohol and glycidol via an ether linkage. Because it contains both an alkene and an epoxide group, either group can be reacted selectively to yield a product where the other functional group remains intact for future reactions.
m-Xylylenediamine is an organic compound with the formula C6H4(CH2NH2)2. A colorless oily liquid, it is produced by hydrogenation of isophthalonitrile.
4,4'-Diaminodicyclohexylmethane is the name for organic compounds with the formula CH2(C6H10NH2)2. It is classified as a diamine. In the epoxy industry it is often referred to as PACM, short for para-diaminodicyclohexylmethane. It is used as a curing agent for epoxy resins It finds particular use in epoxy flooring. Another use is to produce diisocyanates, which are precursors to polyurethanes. The mixture is a colorless solid, but typical samples are yellowish and oily. The compound is produced as a mixture of three isomers by the hydrogenation of methylenedianiline. These isomers are, in decreasing order of their yield from the hydrogenation, trans-trans, cis-trans, and a small amount of cis-cis.
Castor oil glycidyl ether is a liquid organic chemical in the glycidyl ether family. It is sometimes called castor oil triglycidyl ether. It has the theoretical formula C66H116O12. There are two CAS numbers in use, 14228-73-0 and 74398-71-3. The IUPAC name is 2,3-bis[[(E)-12-(oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)octadec-9-enoyl]oxy]propyl (E)-12-(oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)octadec-9-enoate. A key use is acting as a modifier for epoxy resins as a reactive diluent that adds flexibility and improved mechanical properties.