Tert-Butyl Chloroacetate: Chemical Properties, Safe Handling, and Key Applications

What is Tert-Butyl Chloroacetate?

Tert-Butyl Chloroacetate stands as a specialty chemical often used by chemists and manufacturers working in fields such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and specialty organic synthesis. Its structure features a tert-butyl ester attached to a chloroacetate group, giving it unique reactivity that supports various chemical transformations. With the molecular formula C6H11ClO2 and a molecular weight of about 150.6 g/mol, it delivers both the necessary volatility and reactivity for challenging synthesis steps. The product commonly appears as a colorless to pale yellow liquid, sometimes forming crystals if stored at low temperatures, and its distinctive odor makes it easy to recognize in any laboratory environment. Its density typically sits near 1.06 g/cm³, so users need to be cautious when measuring and mixing, as the material can settle in containers if left unattended.

Physical Characteristics of Tert-Butyl Chloroacetate

Chemists who have handled Tert-Butyl Chloroacetate know its consistency shifts with temperature. In a warm lab, it flows as a mobile liquid, yet with enough cooling, it can freeze, forming small white flakes or crystals. This chameleon-like physical nature makes it suitable for a range of dispensing applications, whether poured into a reaction flask as a solution or weighed out after cooling. Despite being a liquid under standard conditions, it's not viscous or oily, so dispensing by pipette or syringe usually goes smoothly. The chemical dissolves in most common organic solvents and enables reliable dilution to specific concentrations by volume. Those who need accurate portioning often prefer to handle it in glass containers as it does not corrode glassware or cause clouding, but contact with plastics can sometimes result in softening, so attention to storage material makes a difference.

Chemical Properties and Reactivity

The chloroacetate group opens the door to nucleophilic substitution, acylation, and esterification. This makes Tert-Butyl Chloroacetate a favored reagent when constructing esters, amides, or introducing the tert-butyl protecting group in synthetic campaigns. The molecule carries potential for both hazardous and beneficial reactions – it reacts exothermically with strong bases and Lewis acids, so storing it away from incompatible substances is crucial. As someone who has worked with similar esters, the importance of stable refrigeration cannot be overstated; decomposition is rare if left sealed under nitrogen, but careless exposure to air and moisture produces hydrolysis and breakdown. It should only be handled in fume hoods due to its potential harm when inhaled. Accidentally spilling it on skin causes severe irritation, and it easily penetrates gloves, so double-gloving and swift clean-up with plenty of water and soap are vital. Its volatility means even a small spill can saturate the air, leading to eye and respiratory discomfort.

Product Specifications and HS Code

Chemical vendors supply Tert-Butyl Chloroacetate at purity levels above 98%, which supports both lab-scale and industrial-scale work. Analytical results often include gas chromatography or HPLC traces, so researchers know exactly what they're working with, reducing the risk of unwanted byproducts. The product falls under HS Code 2915.90, governing export and import controls for carboxylic acids and derivatives. Buyers should check both local and international regulations before moving large amounts, as the chemical's hazardous nature prompts transport restrictions. Bottles are available by the liter, with smaller or larger containers based on project needs. It stores best at 2–8°C and out of direct light. Long-term exposure to higher temperatures or humidity shortens shelf life and may cause polymerization or separation, creating unsafe pressures inside sealed drums.

Safe Handling, Hazards, and Harmful Effects

No work with Tert-Butyl Chloroacetate should ever be done without preparation. The chemical presents acute toxicity and harmful effects when inhaled, ingested, or upon skin contact. In my own experience, mistakes such as not wearing a fitted respirator led to headaches and nausea that lasted through the day. Splashing a few milliliters on the floor greeted the entire lab with a harsh, pungent atmosphere for an hour, overwhelming fume hoods. Gloves, goggles, and full lab coats stay on at all times. All containers must be tightly sealed, and users must label every vessel clearly—not just with the chemical name, but signaling the hazard class and date received. Facility managers often keep spill kits near storage areas, with absorbent pads, neutralizers, and air monitors so no incident gets out of hand. Waste disposal needs quarterly pickup by licensed hazardous chemical handlers. Students often underestimate the risks; supervisors teach safe pipetting and storage from the first day using the material.

Applications and Role as Raw Material

In research and industry, Tert-Butyl Chloroacetate acts as a raw material for synthesizing specialty esters, acids, and pharmaceuticals. Medicinal chemists and process engineers use its chemical reactivity to install or protect acetoxy groups and block sites from unwanted reactions. In the manufacture of crop protection agents, the material gives access to intermediates not otherwise available at scale, and this role as a building block ripples out across supply chains. Workups after its use often involve partitioning into aqueous and organic phases, sometimes requiring distillation under reduced pressure. Technicians skilled at using rotary evaporators and phase-transfer catalysts can eke out every gram of product, making efficient use of costly reagents. Regulatory filings depend on complete safety and technical data, so practitioners maintain detailed process and storage logs to guarantee traceability. In my own projects, purity checks and safety validations were never skipped; in a single batch, an impurity traced back to mishandling of Tert-Butyl Chloroacetate, reinforcing the lesson that careful preparation and monitoring deliver both safety and success.