Properties

Uses

In the pharmaceutical industry, it is used to produce the antiepileptic drug methoxyamine hydrochloride and the antiadrenergic drug methoxyamine hydrochloride. It is also used as a propionyl reagent in organic synthesis.

Used as an alkylating agent, it is used as a propionylating agent in organic synthesis and is an intermediate in the preparation of various propionic acid derivatives, such as phenylacetone. It is also used in the production of the pesticide propargyl chloride. In the pharmaceutical industry, it is used to produce the antiepileptic drugs methoxyamine and choleretic alcohol, and the antiadrenergic drug methoxyamine hydrochloride.

Production Methods

Propionyl chloride can be produced by reacting propionic acid with phosphorus trichloride, phosphorus pentachloride, thionyl chloride, or phosgene.

1. Add propionic acid and phosphorus trichloride to a reaction vessel, add several magnetic pieces, and reflux at 50°C for 6 hours. Let stand for 1-2 hours, then remove the lower layer of phosphorous acid to obtain propionyl chloride. Under the chemical book condition of propionic acid:PCl3 = 1.32:1, the yield is 95%. If the crude product needs purification, it can be obtained by distillation, collecting the fraction at approximately 80°C to obtain the final product. Raw material consumption quota: propionic acid (99.5%) 990 kg/t, phosphorus trichloride (98%) 690 kg/t.

2. Benzoyl chloride method: Propionyl chloride is produced by reacting propionic acid with benzoyl chloride.