Benzyl chloromethyl ether Chemical Properties

Boiling point:

102 °C/14 mmHg (lit.)

Density 

1.126 g/mL at 20 °C (lit.)

refractive index 

n20/D 1.527

Flash point:

91 °C

storage temp. 

2-8°C

solubility 

Chloroform (Sparingly), Ethyl Acetate (Slightly)

form 

Liquid

color 

Clear colorless to pale yellow

Water Solubility 

Soluble in water [2.7 g/L (25 C)]

BRN 

1364034

Stability:

Moisture Sensitive, Toxic

InChIKey

LADPCMZCENPFGV-UHFFFAOYSA-N

CAS DataBase Reference

3587-60-8(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

Benzyl chloromethyl ether(3587-60-8)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

T,Xn,N

Risk Statements 

45-22-23-37/38-41-48/22-36/37/38-20/21/22-50-43

Safety Statements 

53-26-39-45-36/37/39-36-61

RIDADR 

UN 2810 6.1/PG 3

WGK Germany 

3

F 

19-21

HazardClass 

6.1(b)

PackingGroup 

III

HS Code 

29093090

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:Benzylchloromethyl ether
• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich
• Language:English Provider:ACROS

Benzyl chloromethyl ether Usage And Synthesis

Description

Benzyl chloromethyl ether is a powerful alkylating agent and a potential carcinogen. It is also a mild lachrymator, reacting with water and alcohols to form hydrogen chloride. The process should be performed in a hood and inhalation and skin contact should be avoided.

Chemical Properties

Colorless liquid

Uses

Benzyl chloromethyl ether is employed in the introduction of benzoyloxy- and hydroxymethyl groups.

Application

Benzyl chloromethyl ether is mainly used in organic chemistry as a reagent for the synthesis of various compounds and as a solvent for organic reactions. It is also used as a catalyst for the synthesis of many compounds such as pesticides, dyes and surfactants. In addition, it contributes to the manufacture of polymers such as polystyrene and polyurethane, and polymers for drug delivery systems and tissue engineering scaffolds in the pharmaceutical field.

Preparation

Benzyl chloromethyl ether is prepared from benzyl alcohol, aqueous formaldehyde and hydrogen chloride. The specific synthesis steps are as follows:
A 1-l, three-necked flask equipped with an overhead mechanical stirrer with a Teflon paddle, gas-inlet tube, thermometer, and a calcium chloride drying tube is charged with 216 g. (2.00 moles) of benzyl alcohol and 66 g. (2.20 moles as CH2O) of paraformaldehyde. The resulting mixture is maintained at 20–25° with a water bath during addition of anhydrous hydrogen chloride at a moderate rate, with stirring. After approximately 2 hours the reaction is complete, as judged by the appearance of two clear homogeneous phases. The layers are separated, and the upper layer is diluted with 800 ml. of pentane and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate for 3 hours at 0°, with stirring. The drying agent is removed by filtration, 2–3 g. of anhydrous calcium chloride is added to the filtrate, and the solution is concentrated on a rotary evaporator. The residual liquid, which is nearly pure benzyl chloromethyl ether, is decanted, affording 260 g. (83%) of crude product. This crude benzyl chloromethyl ether, which is suitable for use in some applications, is stored over anhydrous calcium chloride at 0° under an inert atmosphere.
If further purification is desired, just prior to use the crude material (40 g.) may be distilled at approximately 3 mm from anhydrous calcium chloride, affording very pure benzyl chloromethyl ether (35 g.), b.p. 70–71° (3 mm).

Synthesis Reference(s)

Synthesis, p. 762, 1983 DOI: 10.1055/s-1983-30506

Benzyl chloromethyl ether(3587-60-8)Related Product Information

• Allylbenzene
• Benzyl acetate
• Mepiquat chloride
• Ammonium chloride
• Benzene
• Ethylbenzene
• Polyvinyl chloride
• Dimethyl ether
• Calcium chloride
• Benzyl alcohol
• Benzyl ether
• BENZYL GLYCIDYL ETHER
• 2-(Phenylmethoxy)-naphthalene
• Benzyl benzoate
• Benzyl chloride
• Sodium chloride
• Dimethyl disulfide
• tert-Butyl methyl ether