Thionyl Chloride → Hydrochloric Acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

The 4-nitro-2-hydroxymethylphenol is then converted to a 2-halomethyl-4-nitrophenol via a mild halogenation reaction such as a thionyl chloride in THF or is produced directly from 4-nitrophenol in a solution of concentrated HCl, a catalytic amount of H2SO4 and formaldehyde dimethylacetal solution by bubbling gaseous HCl through the solution at about 50 to 80° C. (preferably 70° C.) until a thick white precipitate is formed. The thionyl chloride conversion of the 2-hydroxymethyl group is shown process is shown as follows:

Provenance & Evidence