Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Chlorination of vinylacetate

Solero - 23-5-2020 at 08:55

Does someone have experience with the chlorination of vinylacetate to make chloroacetaldehyde?

One article mentions that this reaction is better carried out in two steps. Chlorine is first added to vinylacetate at room temperature with cooling to form 1,2-dichlororethylacetate, which is then hydrolyzed at 50-60°C to form chloroacetaldehyde.

Can someone explain me this two steps reaction?
Step 1: Vinylacetate + Chlorine --> 1,2-dichlororethylacetate
Step 2: 1,2-dichlororethylacetate + H-OH --> chloroacetaldehyde

See attachment

I do not understand how you can do it in two steps? For the hydrolysis you need an acid but is there HCL formed in step 1? They do not mention to add acid during step 2.
Do you not need to add water + vinylacetate and then chlorine?

Thanks


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UC235 - 23-5-2020 at 09:58

There is no HCl formed in the first step. You have not provided any reference, so I cannot comment, but surely it must be needed for efficient hydrolysis.

Solero - 23-5-2020 at 11:16

I have the reference at my work.
In another article they add vinylacetate together with water and then bubble chlorine through it.

I guess this is a better way, you make HCL, acetic acid and chloroacetaldehyde?