2-Chloroethanol

The molecule is bifunctional, consisting of both an alkyl chloride and an alcohol functional group. 2-Chloroethanol is produced by treating ethylene with hypochlorous acid: 2-Chloroethanol was once produced on a large scale as a precursor to ethylene oxide: This application has been supplanted by the more economic direct oxidation of ethylene. Otherwise chloroethanol is still used in the production of pharmaceuticals, biocides, and plasticizers. Many of these applications entail its use in installing 2-hydroxyethyl groups. Several dyes are prepared by the alkylation of aniline derivatives with chloroethanol. It is also used for manufacture of thiodiglycol. It is a solvent for cellulose acetate and ethyl cellulose, textile printing dyes, in dewaxing, refining of rosin, extraction of pine lignin, and the cleaning of machines.