Pyridinium chloride is an organic chemical compound with a formula of C₅H₅NHCl.

Preparation

Pyridinium chloride can be produced by passing hydrogen chloride in pyridine dissolved in diethyl ether. The chemical formula is as follows: :

Acidity

Containing a pyridinium ion, pyridinium chloride has a pK_a of approximately 5, slightly more acidic than that of typical

amine In chemistry, amines (, ) are organic compounds that contain carbon-nitrogen bonds. Amines are formed when one or more hydrogen atoms in ammonia are replaced by alkyl or aryl groups. The nitrogen atom in an amine possesses a lone pair of elec ...

s. This is due to the hybridization of the nitrogen: the nitrogen is sp² hybridized and more electronegative than those nitrogens in ammonium cations, which are sp³ hybridized. Hence they are stronger acids than amines and can be more easily deprotonated by bases.

References

{{reflist Pyridinium compounds Hydrochlorides