Tetrachlorocyclopropene is a

chemical compound A chemical compound is a chemical substance composed of many identical molecules (or molecular entities) containing atoms from more than one chemical element held together by chemical bonds. A molecule consisting of atoms of only one element ...

with the formula C₃Cl₄. A colorless liquid, the compound is a reagent used to prepare acetylene derivatives and in organic synthesis. It is prepared by addition of

dichlorocarbene Dichlorocarbene is the reactive intermediate with chemical formula CCl2. Although this chemical species has not been isolated, it is a common intermediate in organic chemistry, being generated from chloroform. This bent diamagnetic molecule rapi ...

trichloroethylene Trichloroethylene (TCE) is an organochloride with the formula C2HCl3, commonly used as an industrial metal-degreasing solvent. It is a clear, colourless, non-flammable, volatile liquid with a chloroform-like pleasant mild smell and sweet taste.

. It can react with water and

alcohols In chemistry, an alcohol (), is a type of organic compound that carries at least one hydroxyl () functional group bound to a Saturated and unsaturated compounds, saturated carbon atom. Alcohols range from the simple, like methanol and ethanol ...

rapidly.Pentachlorocyclopropane Stephen W. Tobey and Robert West. The University of Wisconsin (1965) The compound is used to prepare aryl

propiolic acid Propiolic acid is the organic compound with the formula HC2CO2H. It is the simplest acetylenic carboxylic acid. It is a colourless liquid that crystallises to give silky crystals. Near its boiling point, it decomposes. It is soluble in water a ...

s: :C₃Cl₄ + ArH + 2 H₂O → ArC₂CO₂H + 4 HCl Under some circumstances, diarylation occurs, giving diarylcyclopropenones, which decarbonylate to give diarylacetylenes. These reactions are thought to proceed via the intermediacy of trichloro

cyclopropenium The cyclopropenium ion is the cation with the formula . It has attracted attention as the smallest example of an aromatic cation. Its salts have been isolated, and many derivatives have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. The cation and so ...

electrophile (C₃Cl₃⁺).

References

Organochlorides Cyclopropenes Perchlorocarbons