Britannica AI Icon

formyl chloride

chemical compound

Quick Summary

Formyl chloride (HCOCl) is a chemical compound that, while theoretically a derivative of formic acid, cannot be isolated because it decomposes into carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen chloride (HCl). It belongs to the acyl halide family, characterized by an acyl group bonded to a halogen atom. Acyl chlorides, like formyl chloride, are highly reactive in nucleophilic substitution reactions. The synthesis of acyl chlorides typically involves treating a carboxylic acid with a compound such as thionyl chloride.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.