Propionyl chloride properties, uses and production process Physical properties of propionyl chloride: It is the acyl chloride of propionic acid and can undergo the reactions that acyl chloride can undergo. It is a colorless, corrosive and volatile liquid. Chemical properties: The colorless liquid has a pungent odor. It is soluble in ethanol. Uses: In the pharmaceutical industry, it is used to produce antiepileptic drug methotrexate, antiserum hormone drug methoxyamine hydrochloride, and is used as a propionyl reagent in organic synthesis. It is also used as an alkylation reagent. It is used in organic synthesis as a propionylation reagent, is an intermediate for preparing various propionic acid derivatives such as phenylpropionic acid, etc.; it is used in the production of pesticides such as diquat; in the pharmaceutical industry, it is used to produce antiepileptic drug dizactetrexine, bile acid, antiserum hormone drug methoxyamine hydrochloride, etc. Production method: Propionic acid reacts with phosphorus trichloride, pentachlorophosphorus, chlorosulfoxide or phosgene to produce propionyl chloride. 1. Put propionic acid and phosphorus trichloride into the reaction kettle, add several magnetic pieces, reflux at 50℃ for 6 hours. Let it stand for 1-2 hours, remove the lower layer phosphoric acid, and then obtain propionyl chloride. Under the condition of propionic acid: PCl3 = 1.32:1, the yield is 95%. When the crude product needs to be purified, the distillation method can be used to collect the fraction at about 80℃ to obtain the finished product. Raw material consumption quota: Propionic acid (99.5%) 990 kg/t, phosphorus trichloride (98%) 690 kg/t. 2. Benzoyl chloride method: It is obtained by the reaction of propionic acid with benzoyl chloride. Production method: The preparation method is to react propionic acid with phosphorus trichloride at 40-50℃ for 1 hour, cool down, stand still, separate, and distill to obtain the product. Reaction equation: CH3CH2COOH + PCl3 → CH3CH2COCl + HOPCl2