Acid Halides & Anhydrides

Acid halides and anhydrides are the most reactive carboxylic acid derivatives, and chemists use them when a fast, clean acylation is needed. This sub-category lists aliphatic and aromatic acyl chlorides, chloroformates and cyclic anhydrides. Examples include 2,4,6-Trichlorobenzoyl chloride, the Yamaguchi reagent for macrolactonisation, 1,3,5-Benzenetricarbonyl trichloride for polyamide membranes, 1-Adamantanecarbonyl chloride, 1-Chloroethyl chloroformate for N-dealkylation and 1,8-Naphthalic anhydride.

Moisture is the enemy here. Acid chlorides hydrolyse in humid air to the acid and hydrogen chloride, which lowers assay and corrodes caps and equipment. Buyers should check assay on arrival and use dry solvents with a base to scavenge HCl. Anhydrides are milder, slower and easier to store, which makes them better for large-scale acylations where control matters.

Items ship in sealed glass bottles with acid-resistant caps, often under nitrogen, and travel as corrosive dangerous goods. Each lot comes with a COA and SDS. Gram packs suit research, and kilogram quantities can be quoted for many items.