2,4,6-trichloro-cyclohexa-2,5-dienone

Abstract

A continuous flow process was optimised for the perchlorination of p-cresol to the corresponding 2,4,6-trichloro-cyclohexa-2,5-dienone derivative employing trichloroisocyanuric acid as a green and safer-to-handle chlorinating agent. The system could furnish 200 g of pure material within 5 h of operation (throughput = 40 g h−1). The compound was easily isolated by filtration and obtained in 95% purity as determined by GC analysis; it could be further purified by crystallisation from a 20:1 Hexane/AcOEt mixture left at −20 °C overnight. The resultant product was characterised by 1H & 13C NMR, MS, IR analyses, with melting point and X-ray single-crystal data being obtained, confirming the structure.