The chemical compound xylylene dichloride (C₆H₄(CH₂Cl)₂) is a white to light yellow sandlike solid. This compound can be classified as a benzyl halide. Xylylene dichloride is used as a vulcanizing agent to harden rubbers. It catalyzes the crosslinking of phenolic resins.

Structure and reactivity

The structure of xylylene dichloride is characterized by an

benzene Benzene is an Organic compound, organic chemical compound with the Chemical formula#Molecular formula, molecular formula C6H6. The benzene molecule is composed of six carbon atoms joined in a planar hexagonal Ring (chemistry), ring with one hyd ...

ring with two chloromethyl groups and four hydrogen atoms bound to it. The chloromethyl groups can be located on different sites on the ring, leading to a few different possible forms. These forms are: *''o''-xylylene dichloride: 1,2-bis(chloromethyl)benzene *''m''-xylylene dichloride: 1,3-bis(chloromethyl)benzene *''p''-xylylene dichloride: 1,4-bis(chloromethyl)benzene The reactive groups of xylylene dichloride are the two CH₂Cl groups.

Synthesis

Xylylene dichloride can be synthesized from benzenedimethanol by reaction with hydrogen chloride. It has also been produced by photochemical chlorination of ortho-xylene."1, 4-bis(chloromethyl)benzene synthesis technology" (2015
Chinese patent N105384595A
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Related compounds

Xylylene dibromide Xylylene dibromide is an organic compound with the formula C6H4(CH2Br)2. It is an off-white solid that, like other benzyl halides, is strongly lachrymatory. It is a useful reagent owing to the convenient reactivity of the two C-Br bonds. Two ot ...

, the dibromo analogue of the title compound.

References

{{reflist Chloromethyl compounds Phenylene compounds