Chloroacetic acid
Chloroacetic acid is the chemical compound with the formula ClCH2CO2H. This carboxylic acid is a useful building block in organic synthesis. Like other chloroacetic acids and related halocarbons, it is a potentially dangerous alkylating agent. Chloroacetic acid is synthesized by chlorinating of acetic acid in the presence of red phosphorus, sulfur, or iodine as a catalyst:
Illustrative of its usefulness in organic chemistry is the O-alkylation of salicylaldehyde with chloroacetic acid followed by decarboxylation of the resulting ether affords benzofuran.
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