Thionyl chloride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula SOCl2. It is a moderately volatile, colorless liquid with an unpleasant acrid odor. Thionyl chloride is primarily used as a chlorinating reagent, with approximately 45,000 tonnes (50,000 short tons) per year being produced during the early 1990s,[5] but is occasionally also used as a solvent.[6][7][8] It is toxic, reacts with water, and is also listed under the Chemical Weapons Convention as it may be used for the production of chemical weapons.
Thionyl chloride is sometimes confused with sulfuryl chloride, SO2Cl2, but the properties of these compounds differ significantly. Sulfuryl chloride is a source of chlorine whereas thionyl chloride is a source of chloride ions.
Thionyl chloride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula SOCl2. It is a moderately volatile, colorless liquid with an unpleasant acrid odor. Thionyl chloride is primarily used as a chlorinating reagent, with approximately 45,000 tonnes (50,000 short tons) per year being produced during the early 1990s,[5] but is occasionally also used as a solvent.[6][7][8] It is toxic, reacts with water, and is also listed under the Chemical Weapons Convention as it may be used for the production of chemical weapons.
Thionyl chloride is sometimes confused with sulfuryl chloride, SO2Cl2, but the properties of these compounds differ significantly. Sulfuryl chloride is a source of chlorine whereas thionyl chloride is a source of chloride ions.
To facilitate the synthesis of indenones from 3-hydroxyindanones via dehydroxylation.
To functionalize silica gel for thioacetalization of aldehydes.
Conversion of tert-butyl esters to acid chlorides.
Conversion of aliphatic and aromatic sulfoxides to sulfides in the presence of triphenylphosphine.
