This section provides an overview for oxalyl chloride as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 13 oxalyl chloride manufacturers and their company rankings.
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Oxalyl chloride is a colorless, fuming liquid with a pungent odor. Its chemical formula is (COCl)2, with a molecular weight of 126.93, and its CAS number is 79-37-8. Structurally similar to phosgene, with an additional carbonyl group, its acute toxicity and other properties significantly differ.
French chemist Adrien Fauconnier first prepared oxalyl chloride in 1892 by reacting diethyl oxalate with phosphorus pentachloride.
Oxalyl chloride, akin to thionyl chloride, generates volatile by-products such as hydrochloric acid, making it a milder and more selective reagent. It is widely used in organic synthesis, particularly for converting carboxylic acids to acyl chlorides, often with dimethylformamide as a catalyst.
RCOOH + (COCl)2 → RCOCl + CO2 + CO
Key applications include the synthesis of acid chlorides, acylation of aromatic compounds, diester formation, and alcohol oxidation. Notably, it facilitates the Friedel-Crafts acylation of aromatic compounds, with hydrolysis of the resulting acyl chloride producing carboxylic acids. Oxalyl chloride can also react with alcohols to form esters.
2RCH2OH + (COCl)2 → RCH2OC(O)C(O)OCH2R + 2HCl
With a melting point of -12°C and a boiling point of 65°C, oxalyl chloride's density is 1.48 g/mL. It dissolves in ether, benzene, and chloroform but reacts explosively with water, producing hydrogen chloride gas.
As a chlorinating agent, it decomposes into phosgene and carbon monoxide upon heating. Although toxic by inhalation, its acute toxicity is significantly lower than phosgene.
Oxalyl chloride can be synthesized by treating oxalic anhydride with phosphorus pentachloride. It is commercially produced by decomposing tetrachloride obtained through the chlorination of ethylene carbonate.
C2H4O2CO + 4Cl2 → C2Cl4O2CO + 4HCl
C2Cl4O2CO → C2O2Cl2 + COCl2
Oxalyl chloride reacts with water, releasing gaseous products such as hydrogen chloride, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide, different from other acyl chlorides which hydrolyze to carboxylic acids. In the presence of DMSO and triethylamine, it can facilitate Swern oxidation, converting alcohols into aldehydes and ketones. It also undergoes Friedel-Crafts acylation with aromatic compounds in the presence of aluminum chloride.
Oxalyl chloride is not specifically regulated under major laws relating to safety and fire.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Kishida Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1924 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of reagents and high-purity chemicals and also does drug discovery support activities. Its product portfolio includes fine chemicals, research chemicals, ionic liquid, organic micro-analytical reagents, and chemical reagents for analysis. The products support several industries, including reagent business, battery material, drug discovery, and life science. The company is ISO 14001 certified and supplies several companies worldwide, including Meterion Advanced Chemicals Inc., Acros Organics, ChemBridge Corporation, Decon Laboratories, and InerBioScreen Ltd.
Hari Orgochem Pvt. Ltd, founded in India in 1985, is a manufacturer of Trichloroacetyl Chloride (Agrochemical Intermediate for Chlorpyrifos) and Pivaloyl Chloride (Pharmaceutical and Agrochemical Intermediate). The company produces Trichloroacetyl Chloride which is an essential intermediate in the production of various pharmaceutical compounds, and in the synthesis of agrochemicals, contributing to efficient crop protection. It utilizes over 50 Glass Lined Reactors and can produce 8000 MT per annum of Acid Chlorides.
Hefei Home Sunshine Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd, established in 2013 and headquartered in Hefei City, China, is a manufacturer specializing in both standard and custom chemical synthesis. With manufacturing facilities in Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Inner Mongolia, Home Sunshine Pharma offers a range of products, including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), intermediates, fine chemicals, coenzymes, and nucleotides. As an ISO 9001:2015 certified company, Home Sunshine Pharma serves research institutions, universities, and industries in Europe, America, and Southeast Asia with their chemical products.
Loba Chemie Pvt. Ltd. is a Mumbai-based manufacturer and supplier of laboratory and fine chemicals, catering to industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, research, hospitals, and universities since its establishment in 1975. Their product range includes pH indicators, biological stains, HPLC solvents, high purity acids, and tetrazolium salts and derivatives. These products serve various applications like pH testing, cell and tissue staining, chemical separation, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The company has several certifications, such as ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015.
Manus Aktteva Biopharma LLP, established in 2010 and headquartered in Ahmedabad, India, is a manufacturer, supplier, and exporter of pharmaceutical APIs, intermediates, and specialty chemicals. Their wide-ranging products cater to industries such as pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and biotechnology. They offer Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), the fundamental components used in various drug formulations, such as antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, and anti-inflammatory drugs. The company also supplies specialty chemicals with unique properties applicable to diverse industries, from plastics to cosmetics manufacturing. Furthermore, the company offers custom synthesis services to meet the specific needs of their customers.
Capot Chemical Co.,Ltd was established in 1996 and is a manufacturer of custom synthesis products based in Hanghzhou, P.R. China. The company manufactures various organics products such as boronic acids, unnatural amino acids, cross linkers, chiral building blocks, and heterocyclic compounds. The management of the company have obtained the ISO 9001:2015 standards certification for the safety management system. The company have participated in various exhibitions, such as Chemspec Europe in Basel and CPhI in Barcelona, Shanghai, Milan, and Philadelphia.
Merck, started in 1668 and based in Darmstadt, Germany, is a supplier of solutions and services for research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical and biotechnological drug therapies. The company serves the life science industry and has a broad portfolio of 300,000 products, including biopharmaceutical manufacturing, industrial microbiology, reagent, life science research, and water purification products. It is available in 66 countries, brings together six brands, and has several ISO certifications, including ISO 13485, ISO 14001, ISO 13485, and ISO 50001.
Nacalai Tesque Inc., founded in 1846 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of research chemicals, fine chemicals, diagnostics, and the related instruments. Some of its products include cytokines, nucleic acid electrophoresis, cell dissociation reagents, and sialic acid-related products, and it also offers custom and bulk service for bulk reagents and cell culture media. The company has more than 50 domestic distributors and several worldwide, including Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, Europe, and Africa. It is ISO 9001 and ISO 9002 certified, while the Kyoto South brand and Tesque factory are ISO 14001 certified.
Founded in 1981, Central Drug House Ltd. serves the scientific community via manufacturing and marketing a library of over 9,000 products to laboratory fine chemicals and dehydrated culture media with emphasis on purity and service. Examples are acids & bases, adsorbents, disinfectants, indicator papers, oils, and solvents. CDH provides bio chemicals, research chemicals, laboratory reagents, various solvents, stains & indicators, and dehydrated culture media. CDH is ISO 9001 certified and CDHs’ products are in compliance with specifications of IP, BP, USP, and EP standards.
Founded in Mumbai, India in 2006, Otto Chemie Pvt. Ltd. is an ISO 9001:2015 & GMP certified chemical manufacturing company and distributor. Otto Chemie serves customers in many industries including agriculture and food processing, pharmaceuticals, oil & gas, cement, as well as educational and R&D industries. Product offerings include antibiotics, amino acids, vitamins, detergents, ionic liquids, materials science compounds, labware, oil, metal & ceramic science compounds and tools, oils, reagents, solvents.
MuseChem Chemicals is an American chemical supplier located in Fairfield, New Jersey. They offer a wide range of products, including inhibitors and agonists, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and specialty chemicals. Research chemicals such as chemical reagents, bioactive chemicals, catalysts, and ligands are also part of their product offerings. MuseChem provides various services, including custom synthesis research of organic compounds for the agrochemical, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. They also offer peptide synthesis services, ranging from bulk API peptides production to complex peptide modifications. Moreover, MuseChem offers bioconjugation services to create functional biomolecules for biomarker imaging, protein biodistribution, and cellular event tracking.
Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
India | 5 | 45.5% |
China | 3 | 27.3% |
Japan | 2 | 18.2% |
South Africa | 1 | 9.1% |