Reactivity of chlorinating agents/PPh3 for the chlorination of alcohols and carboxylic acids: a comparative study

The reactivity of chlorinating agents was examined with the aid of 1H NMR using competitive reactions between selected chlorinating agents and CBr4 towards alcohols and carboxylic acids. The reactivity was greatly dependent on the type of substituent on the chlorinating agents. COCCl3 and CN substituted trichloromethyl groups enhanced the reactivity of the chlorinating agent with PPh3 for the chlorination of alcohols and carboxylic acids.