Allyl chloride

Overview
Allyl chloride is a colorless liquid with the chemical formula CH2=CHCH2Cl. It features an alkene group next to, or "allylic to", an alkyl halide group, It is insoluble in water but soluble in common organic solvents. It is a common as an alkylating agent relevant to the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and pesticides. It is also a component in thermosetting resins.

Allyl chloride is a common building block in organic synthesis. Illustrative important reactions include cyanation to allyl cyanide (CH2=CHCH2CN), reductive coupling to give diallyl,CH2=CHCH2CH2CH=CH2), complexation to palladium to give allyl palladium dimer, (C3H5)2Pd2Cl2, and dehydrohalogenation to cyclopropene.

Allyl chloride is prepared by the reaction of propylene with chlorine gas at 500 °C.

Safety
Allyl chloride is toxic and flammable.