Methyl chloride synthesis

Hydroxybenzaldehyde has an agreeable aromatic odor, but is not itself a fragrance. It is, however, a useful intermediate in the synthesis of fragrances. The methyl ether of -hydroxybenzaldehyde, ie, -anisaldehyde, is a commercially important fragrance. Anisaldehyde can be made in a simple one-step synthesis from hydroxybenzaldehyde and methyl chloride. Another important fragrance, 4-(p-hydroxyphenyl)butanone, commonly referred to as raspberry ketone, can be prepared from the reaction of -hydroxybenzaldehyde and acetone, followed by reduction (see Flavors and spices). 

Koch Chemical Company is the only U.S. suppHer of all PMBs (except hexamethylbenzene). Its process has the flexibility of producing isodurene, prehnitene, and pentamethylbenzene, should a market develop. Koch s primary process (20) is based on isomerization, alkylation, and disproportionation conducted in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst. For the synthesis of mesitylene and hemimellitene, pseudocumene is isomerized. If durene, isodurene, or prehnitene and pentamethylbenzene are desired, pseudocumene is alkylated with methyl chloride (see Alkylation Friedel-CRAFTSreactions). 

In contrast to the hydrolysis technology, the methanolysis process allows for the one-step synthesis of organosdoxane oligomers and methyl chloride without formation of hydrochloric acid (64,65). The continuous methanolysis can also yield quantitatively linear sdanol-stopped oligomers by recycle of the cycHc fraction into the hydrolysis loop. 

Dry methyl chloride is unteactive with all common metals except the alkaU and alkaline-earth metals, magnesium, 2iac, and alumiaum. In dry ether solution, methyl chloride reacts with sodium to yield ethane by the Wurt2 synthesis ... 

Methyl chloride can be converted iato methyl iodide or bromide by refluxing ia acetone solution ia the presence of sodium iodide or bromide. The reactivity of methyl chloride and other aUphatic chlorides ia substitution reactions can often be iacteased by usiag a small amount of sodium or potassium iodide as ia the formation of methyl aryl ethers. Methyl chloride and potassium phthalimide do not readily react to give /V-methy1phtha1imide unless potassium iodide is added. The reaction to form methylceUulose and the Williamson synthesis to give methyl ethers are cataly2ed by small quantities of sodium or potassium iodide. 

Thermal chlorination of methane was first put on an industrial scale by Hoechst in Germany in 1923. At that time, high pressure methanol synthesis from hydrogen and carbon monoxide provided a new source of methanol for production of methyl chloride by reaction with hydrogen chloride. Prior to 1914 attempts were made to estabHsh an industrial process for methanol by hydrolysis of methyl chloride obtained by chlorinating methane. 

Elimination of a molecule of methyl chloride takes place also in several other cy-clizations of organyl methyl tellurides containing active chlorine atoms, e.g., in the synthesis of tellurocoumarin (84JHC1281) and telluroisocoumarin (80JOC3535). 

The major use of methyl chloride is to produce silicon polymers. Other uses include the synthesis of tetramethyl lead as a gasoline octane booster, a methylating agent in methyl cellulose production, a solvent, and a refrigerant. 

The synthesis and purification of cumyl alcohol (CumOH), p-dicumyl methyl ether (DCE)) and 2-chloro-2,4,4-trimethylpentane (TMPC1), and the sources and purification of methyl chloride (MeCl), methylcyclohexane (MCHx), isobutylene have been described [9, 10]. P-Pinene (P-PIN), (Aldrich), was chromatographed over alumina (activity I, Fisher), and freshly distilled over CaH2 under nitrogen according to 1H-NMR spectroscopy and GC analysis the purity was >99%. 2,6-Di-/er/-butylpyridine (DtBP), (Aldrich), anhydrous A,A-dimethylacetamid (DMA), (Aldrich), ethylaluminum dichloride (EtAlCl2), 1.0 M solution in hexanes (Aldrich), and methanol (Fisher) were used as received. 

In addition to its uses for electronic devices, silicon is a major component of silicone polymers. The silicone backbone consists of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms. The synthesis of these polymers begins with an organic chloride such as methyl chloride and an alloy of silicon and copper ... 

Hexaepoxy squalene, HES (Scheme 70) was used as a multifunctional initiator in the presence of TiCU as a coinitiator, di-f-butylpyridine as a proton trap, and N,N-dimethylacetamide as an electron pair donor in methylcy-clohexane/methyl chloride solvent mixtures at - 80 °C for the synthesis of (PIB-fc-PS)n star-block copolymers [145]. IB was polymerized first followed by the addition of styrene. The efficiency and the functionality of the initiator were greatly influenced by both the HES/IB ratio and the concentration ofTiCL, thus indicating that all epoxy initiation sites were not equivalent for polymerization. Depending on the reaction conditions stars with 3 to 10 arms were synthesized. The molecular weight distribution of the initial PIB stars was fairly narrow (Mw/Mn < 1.2), but it was sufficiently increased after the polymerization of styrene (1.32 < Mw/Mn < 1.88). 

Conjugate addition of vinyl-, aryl-, heteroarylcuprates 90 to the cyclobutenedione 63, followed by in situ protection with (methoxyethoxy) methyl chloride of the enolates, provides a method for synthesizing substituted catechol derivatives 91 [44], Regiocontrolled synthesis is achieved by using cyclobutenedione monoacetals 92 as starting substrates. (Scheme 32)... 

The synthesis of organosilicones and organosilicone surfactants has been well described elsewhere [36-39] and hence only a brief review is given here. Industrially the manufacture of silicones is performed stepwise via the alkylchlorosilanes, produced through the reaction of elemental silicon with methyl chloride (the Muller—Rochow Process) [40,41]. Inclusion of HC1 and/or H2(g) into the reaction mixture, as in Eq. (1.2), yields CH3HSiCl2, the precursor to the organofunctional silanes, and therefore the silicone surfactants ... 

Methyl chloride is used in the production of tetramethyllead antiknock compounds for gasoline and methyl silicone resins and polymers, and as a catalyst carrier in low-temperature polymerization (e g., butyl rubber), a refrigerant, a fluid for thermometric and thermostatic equipment, a methylating agent in organic synthesis, an extractant and low-temperature solvent, a herbicide, a topical antiseptic, and a slowing agent (lARC, 1986 Lewis, 1993). 

Methyl chloride was mutagenic to bacteria and induced chromosomal aberrations in plants. It induced unscheduled DNA synthesis in cultured rat hepatocytes and, in rats exposed in vivo, there was a small increase in unscheduled DNA synthesis in hepatocytes but not in tracheal epithelial cells or spermatocytes. DNA strand breaks were induced by methyl chloride in the kidney cells of exposed mice. In cultured mammalian cells, it induced mutations and sister chromatid exchanges and enhanced viral cell transformation. It induced dominant lethal effects in rats. The last effect appears to be due to a failure of the males to fertilize the females, rather than to preimplantation embryonic death and can be partially inhibited by treatment with an anti-inflammatory agent (Chellman et al., 1986c). 

Working, P.K., Doolittle. D.J.. Smith Oliver, T., White, R.D. Butterworth, B.E. (1986) Unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat tracheal epithelial cells, hepatocytes and spermatocytes following exposure to methyl chloride in vitro and in vivo. Mutat. Res., 162, 219-224... 

Methyl iodide is produced by many marine photosynthetic organisms and therefore the ocean is thought to be a major natural source of methyl iodide. Some of this is released to the atmosphere and some reacts with seawater to form methyl chloride. Industrial emissions of methyl iodide may occur in conjunction with its use as a methylating agent and in organic synthesis. Humans are exposed to methyl iodide from the ambient air and from ingesting seafood (United States National Library of Medicine, 1998). 

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