【Chemical Name】 Ethanesulfonyl chloride
【CAS No.】 594-44-5
Ethanesulfonyl Chloride, with a Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number of 594-44-5, is an organic compound belonging to the sulfonyl chloride family. This chemical is also known by its alternative names such as Ethanesulfonic Acid Chloride, Ethylsulfonyl Chloride, or 1-Chlorosulfanylethane. It is a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a pungent and irritating odor, indicative of its reactive nature.
The molecular formula of Ethanesulfonyl Chloride is C2H5SO2Cl, and its structural formula depicts a sulfur atom doubly bonded to an oxygen atom, forming a sulfonyl group (SO2), which is then attached to a chlorine atom on one side and an ethyl group (-C2H5) on the other. This arrangement gives the molecule its unique chemical properties.
Physical State: At room temperature, Ethanesulfonyl Chloride exists as a liquid.
Boiling Point: It has a relatively low boiling point, which allows it to be easily distilled or vaporized under mild conditions.
Stability: This compound is not particularly stable and can react vigorously with water, alcohols, and other nucleophilic reagents, releasing heat and potentially hazardous byproducts like hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas.
Hazardous Nature: Due to its reactivity and potential to form toxic or corrosive byproducts, Ethanesulfonyl Chloride is considered a hazardous chemical and requires special handling precautions.
Despite its hazards, Ethanesulfonyl Chloride finds niche applications in various industries due to its unique reactivity. Some of its uses include:
Intermediate in Organic Synthesis: It serves as a valuable building block in the synthesis of complex organic molecules, particularly those containing sulfonyl groups. These sulfonyl-containing compounds have applications in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and other specialty chemicals.
Modifier of Polymers and Surfaces: Ethanesulfonyl Chloride can be used to modify the properties of polymers and surfaces by introducing sulfonyl chloride functionalities, enhancing their reactivity, solubility, or other physicochemical properties.
Research Purposes: Due to its unique reactivity profile, this compound is also used in research laboratories for studying reaction mechanisms, developing new synthetic pathways, and exploring potential applications of sulfonyl chloride chemistry.