Chemists working through the twentieth century constantly pushed boundaries with their quest for innovative intermediates. 4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone first appeared along this march of progress. Researchers in the late 1960s and 1970s explored electrophilic aromatic substitutions, seeking building blocks with unique halogen patterns. Their efforts gave rise to diverse aryl ketones, including derivatives of butyrophenone. By the 1980s, as pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries ramped up searches for bioactive scaffolds, interest in halogenated phenones grew. Modern-day catalogs from major chemical suppliers reflect decades of incremental advances: more scalable syntheses, greater purity, tailored handling procedures, and a sharply tuned regulatory landscape.
4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone stands out in the catalog of aryl ketones. Its structure—the four-carbon butyrophenone backbone with a chlorine atom swapped onto one ring and a fluorine onto the para position of the opposite ring—offers reactivity not seen in either simple butyrophenone or mono-halogenated derivatives. Customers looking to introduce selectivity into their pharmaceutical synthesis, or to create molecular probes for biological studies, often stop at this molecule. From the synthetic chemist’s perspective, the halides offer "handles" for Suzuki couplings or nucleophilic substitution. Academic researchers also favor it as a model compound for reaction studies, especially for understanding how different electronic patterns affect classic transformations.
The white to off-white crystalline solid forms tightly packed lattices, bringing its melting point north of 40°C in most lots, with some variation from batch to batch. Its faint, aromatic scent escapes as a gentle reminder of the phenone core beneath all the halogenations. Solubility tests show moderate to good dissolution in common organic solvents—ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and acetone wash it up without fuss, while water barely touches it. On the bench, the material resists air and light, with neither rapid decomposition nor color change across typical lab conditions. From a chemical stability perspective, those chlorine and fluorine atoms anchor the molecule against random electrophilic attack, but chemists know their value for intentional modifications: as leaving groups and as control elements tuning reactivity.
Most reputable suppliers deliver 4-chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone at 98% or greater HPLC purity, clearly marked by batch. Labels detail formula (C10H8ClFO), molecular weight (202.62 g/mol), and safety classifications across GHS, REACH, and national standards. Handling notes mandate use of gloves and safety glasses: not negotiable, given its moderate irritant properties. Each bottle includes unique batch numbers for tracking, a growing demand in regulated environments. Certificates of analysis often accompany shipments, giving buyers immediate verification of spectral data (NMR, IR), melting range, and chromatography results. From personal experience, ignoring these details has created headaches—so the diligence now paid to labeling reflects hard-earned wisdom.
Most processes start with a Friedel-Crafts acylation. A para-chlorobenzene partners with a para-fluorobutyryl chloride, under the watchful presence of aluminum chloride as the Lewis acid catalyst. Reaction runs cold, stirring under inert gas, before quenching into ice and aqueous work-up. Some labs opt for alternative routes: intermediate protective group strategies, halogen exchange techniques post-acylation, or use of phase-transfer catalysis for purer yields. Each method has quirks—I've seen the difference that temperature swings or minor changes in reagent equivalents can make, sometimes pushing a batch to unacceptable impurity levels. Researchers have published improved methods scaling up to the kilo, but the inescapable truth remains that getting the best results takes attentive monitoring and adjustment for each starting material lot.
Those twin halogen groups come into play during downstream chemistry. The fluorine atom at the para position often acts as a stubborn sentinel, staying put unless forced by specialized conditions—useful when chemists want predictable reactivity at the chlorine end. The chlorine, by contrast, readily surrenders itself in palladium catalyzed cross-couplings, allowing the installation of complex aryl, alkenyl, or alkynyl groups. Reduction of the ketone converts it to the corresponding alcohol, while Baeyer-Villiger oxidation inserts an oxygen, yielding esters. My own early projects used 4-chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone as a gateway to a library of diarylbutanones with tailored electronics, and I witnessed firsthand how those halides can both protect sensitive positions and enable further functionalization.
One sees a collection of synonyms depending on catalog, country, or research context: 1-(4-Chlorophenyl)-4'-fluorobutan-1-one; 4'-Fluoro-4-chlorobutyrophenone; and sometimes, simple trade codes like CFBP-202 or CBFP. Chemical databases and supplier inventories lean on CAS Number 446-53-1 as a universal identifier. It's always wise to cross-check names and identifiers, since confusion with other halogenated butyrophenones happens—I've seen misorders based on a missed apostrophe or flipped prefix in the product name, causing weeks of delay and unplanned troubleshooting.
Lab workers treating 4-chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone with respect avoid skin contact, inhalation, or accidental ingestion. Eyes flush instantly if splashed, and its dust triggers moderate respiratory irritation. Waste must head into halogenated organic containers, as local regulations classify it under hazardous organic compounds. Automated handling tools and ventilation cuts exposure risk—no one likes the surprise of a fume hood going down mid-project. REACH and OSHA documentation places it in moderate risk Category 3 for acute exposure, urging vigilance. My teams keep current on safety data sheets, and direct experience has driven home the real-world cost of complacency here: skin rashes and mild headaches have cropped up quickly after poor PPE compliance.
Medicinal chemistry groups commonly reach for 4-chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone in early-stage new drug synthesis. The molecule stars as a versatile intermediate, giving medicinal chemists entry to butyrophenone-derived antipsychotic scaffolds, selective dopaminergic or serotonergic agents, and antiemetic motifs. Agrochemical research benefits from its well-positioned halides in building herbicidal or insecticidal candidates, where incremental tweaks in electronics or lipophilicity tip the balance between active and inactive compounds. Analytical chemistry sometimes taps this compound as a reference standard or spike during method validation. From my own bench work, I've witnessed how a single change—like moving from a chlorine to a bromine—fundamentally shifts biological results, showing the impact even subtle halogen swaps have in structure-activity relationship studies.
Interest in this compound continues at the intersection of synthesis and biological screening. Research groups seek new C–C and C–N bond formation tactics under mild, green conditions—catalysis with earth-abundant metals, or electrochemical and photochemical methods—using 4-chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone as a test case. Some projects focus on sustainable preparation, eliminating hazardous additives or phase transfer agents. Others track pharmacokinetics and off-target liabilities, aiming to balance metabolic stability with desired therapeutic action. Deep dives into computational chemistry map the molecule’s electrostatics, informing the next generation of design around the butyrophenone scaffold. Early research used crude NMR and melting point as benchmarks; now, advanced LC-MS, high-resolution crystallography, and AI-driven screening bring fresh rigor and creativity.
Toxicological profiling of 4-chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone remains in progress. Bench data suggest moderate irritancy and a lack of acute systemic toxicity at low doses, but repeated exposure studies bear watching. Halogenated aryl ketones sometimes raise concerns regarding long-term bioaccumulation and subtle organ-specific toxicity, especially for workers handling gram- or kilogram-scale amounts. Environmental data gap remains worrisome: few published degradation studies give a clear picture of fate after release. On site, routine exposure leads to headaches, dizziness, and mild mucous membrane irritation—enough to drive home the importance of lab safety drills and coordinated waste disposal. Watching regulators in Europe and North America update their safety thresholds motivates ongoing efforts to develop safer analogs or more robust neutralization methods.
Emerging fields like artificial intelligence-driven drug discovery could create new demand for reliable halogenated intermediates, including 4-chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone. Its capacity to offer selective reactivity in late-stage functionalization gives it an edge as medicinal chemists look for ways to quickly tailor properties of drug candidates. Ongoing drive toward greener chemistry might trigger innovations in synthesis, cutting the environmental impact and reducing hazardous waste. Meanwhile, as regulatory standards tighten, suppliers investing in batch traceability, micro-impurity profiling, and safe packaging can expect closer collaborations with research and industry labs. Personal experience suggests the pressure for data-driven decision-making—on safety, on reactivity, on environmental persistence—will continue to rise. Those in academic and industrial R&D who integrate feedback from regulatory science, synthetic advances, and hands-on safety audits will define the next chapter for this versatile intermediate.
Questions about structure seem like textbook material, but chemical building blocks shape real-world outcomes. 4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone, for example, has an imposing name, yet at the core stands a clear arrangement: two benzene rings joined by a butyrophenone backbone, sporting a chlorine atom on one side and a fluorine on the other. Sometimes it’s easy to forget how much impact swapping a single atom can have on the character of a whole molecule. One atom and the reactivity, volatility, even safety profile, can change altogether. That matters for research, medicine, and industry.
This compound starts with the butyrophenone group—essentially a phenone (benzene ring with a ketone) attached through a straight chain of four carbons. Add a chlorine atom to position 4 on one ring, put a fluorine at the mirror position on the other ring, and you get a combination with fresh properties. If you drew it, you’d see the ketone set at carbon one of the chain sliding off one benzene ring. At the para position (4) of one ring, a chlorine stands in. Across the backbone, another benzene ring holds a fluorine at its own para position.
This is no accident of synthesis; chemists pick spots for substitutions with intention. Chlorine adds bulk and electronegativity, changing how the molecule behaves in solutions or within a living system. Fluorine, meanwhile, often boosts metabolic stability. These choices might look small, but they decide whether a molecule resists heat, dissolves in water, or interacts with enzymes.
Neither chlorine nor fluorine are shy actors. Fluorinated molecules show up in all sorts of pharmaceuticals because that tiny change resists breakdown in the liver. That simple swap can mean the difference between a compound that helps patients and one that fizzles out too soon. Put chlorine in the mix and you shift polarity, raise or lower boiling points, and nudge behavior just enough to influence practical use.
But with every new substitution, questions follow. How does this version break down? Could traces show up in wastewater? In the lab, safety data sheets come out right away. Years in chemical research taught me to respect even the tiniest tweak. Compounds with halogens like these can linger in the environment if not managed properly. Thoughtful study and strong workplace protocols matter as much as the latest patent or publication.
Solving the challenges posed by molecules like 4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone, the answer comes down to strong science and responsible habits. Modern analytical tools allow us to map out how every atom moves and behaves. Spectroscopy, chromatography, computational chemistry—these all help catch problems early. Handling halogenated compounds safely shouldn’t fall to the background. It pays off in cleaner labs, safer storage, and less impact on the planet.
Bottom line: structures like this one matter because they reveal the interface of creativity and responsibility. Chemical innovation always brings value, but the people and practices behind the science decide how that value gets shared—and what costs get left behind.
4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone belongs to the family of substituted aromatic ketones—a group chemists often turn to when making new compounds. Its value comes from the unique arrangement of its chlorine and fluorine atoms, which changes how it reacts with other chemicals. I remember standing in a small lab, watching a senior chemist use a compound like this to build a framework for something bigger. Tools like this one make complex drugs possible because of the precise way they fit together with other molecules.
The pharmaceutical industry pays close attention to functionalized ketones. These molecules let researchers create medical building blocks for painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs, and more. In drug development, minor tweaks in a molecule—like swapping out a hydrogen for chlorine or fluorine—can have a big effect on how well a medicine works in your body. 4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone gets brought in for these subtle changes, helping turn a basic scaffold into a powerful medicine. Most published records from chemical suppliers or pharmaceutical patents describe its use as a core ingredient to build up more complicated compounds.
This molecule isn’t just for medicine. Over the past decade, I’ve seen agrochemical researchers use similar ketones to design better crop protection tools. A slight adjustment in the chemical structure can make a pesticide break down more quickly in the environment or stick better to plant leaves. Chlorine and fluorine substitutions change how a chemical interacts with bugs, weeds, and even the weather after spraying. The result can be a pesticide that lasts longer in sunlight or helps farmers use less product with the same results.
Patents back up this process. A search of the Espacenet database, which tracks chemical inventions, shows 4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone getting used as a starting point for herbicides and insecticides. Its structure acts as a versatile launchpad for making new formulas, some designed to solve resistance problems in pests that keep evolving past older solutions.
With powerful chemicals come responsibilities. Handling compounds like 4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone poses safety concerns, both in the plant where it’s manufactured and in the environment where finished products end up. Exposure risks follow anyone handling intermediates with halogen atoms—these can linger in soil or water and, without controls, hurt local ecosystems. The European Chemicals Agency highlights the importance of following strict procedures during use and disposal—something I’ve seen companies get better at, but slip-ups still happen.
The real challenge lies in scaling up. A small batch in a research lab is easier to manage than tons of raw material flowing through a big plant. Companies rely on well-trained process chemists, closed-loop containment, and regular monitoring for leaks. Accidents are rare, but regulators never stop checking because the stakes are so high. Industry must keep finding safer alternatives and ways to recycle chemical waste. Stronger collaboration between regulators, researchers, and communities can prevent avoidable environmental harm.
Chemicals like 4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone open big doors in both medicine and agriculture. Better crop yields and new treatments depend on them. As the world depends more on these kinds of compounds, it makes sense for both researchers and regulators to push for safer, greener processes. Open reporting, training, and continued investment in new production methods are steps that keep both people and the planet safer while allowing the promise of new technologies to keep moving forward.
Anyone who has spent a few years working with organic intermediates learns that not every reagent behaves the way you expect. I remember walking into a stockroom where bottles spilled on a cluttered shelf. Accidents like that have a way of sticking with you. Precursors like 4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone aren’t usually front-page news, though they play a role in flavor chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and materials science. Keeping them safe and stable requires more than a locked door.
Some folks see storage as an afterthought, but one cracked cap or a forgotten bottle can cost a lab weeks, sometimes more. This compound, a ketone with both halide and fluorine substituents, tends to linger if spilled. Strong odors remind you that the cleanup will take more than a paper towel. Using robust amber glass bottles shields the contents from light, keeping the compound stable. I’ve seen what long-term exposure to sunlight does — one quick look at a yellowed bottle, and you’ll rethink leaving anything out on the benchtop.
Low temperatures don't just keep milk fresh; they slow down chemical changes in sensitive materials, too. I’ve worked in labs where even a little warmth made certain bottles puff up. For 4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone, anywhere from 2°C to 8°C usually works. Chemical suppliers and published literature back this up — these temperatures cut down on side reactions, especially hydrolysis for halogenated phenones. Regular refrigerators sometimes get crowded, but temperature-controlled cabinets with logging features let you know if something starts to go wrong overnight.
Even in air-conditioned rooms, moisture sneaks in. Most phenones hate water, and this compound behaves the same way. Humid air doesn’t just ruin old books; it seeps into containers and breaks down the product. In my experience, popping a silica gel packet in with containers keeps moisture in check. Not all labs use these desiccants, but they’re cheap insurance.
Proper ventilation serves as the other half of the equation. In a cramped storeroom, vapors can build up quickly. I’ve watched students cough after opening chemical cabinets too quickly. Exhaust fans and purpose-built vented cabinets are more than a luxury. Comfort in research often depends on whether headaches and coughs are a daily problem.
No matter how careful the staff, accidents happen. Dropped bottles and leaking caps ruin more stock than almost any other mishap. Thick-walled glass with tightly sealed, chemical-resistant lids hold up better with repeated use. All staff should check for residue around necks and swaps caps when seals look worn.
Handwritten or faded labels set up trouble months down the line. I saw a bottle get mixed up because a water stain erased its name. Printed labels and digital inventory systems combined make it easy to track age, stability, and hazard class.
No shortcuts exist for storage. Keeping 4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space inside solid amber glass bottles reduces headaches and injuries. Tough storage protocols seem tedious at first, but they mean fewer costly mistakes when orders get backlogged or budgets tighten. The technicians and researchers who take storage seriously help everyone breathe easier — literally and figuratively.
Anyone spending time in a lab or working with chemicals knows certain names catch your eye. 4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone is one of those. The mix of “chloro” and “fluoro” points straight to risks. Chemicals like this, with both chlorine and fluorine, often end up flagged for their reactivity and health concerns.
I remember the first time rules around halogenated ketones came up during my training. The main thing hammered home: go slow and read before opening the bottle. Halogenated aromatic ketones share a history of causing skin burns, eye damage, and trouble with breathing if you breathe the dust or fumes for long enough. Evidence shows that similar compounds don’t just irritate the skin—they cause lasting effects.
Occupational safety guidance on substances like this includes pretty direct language—use gloves that won’t break down, a full face shield, and ensure ventilation not just for comfort, but to keep tiny quantities from drifting into your lungs. With toxic chemicals, it’s about exposure and dose. In the case of 4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone, even small amounts pose problems. Long-term contact leads to health dangers, from organ damage to potential chronic diseases or cancer depending on the halogen substituents. The top chem journals flag similar butyrophenones for mutagenicity and cytotoxicity in animal studies.
A friend once shared that he spilled a tiny amount of a closely related compound. Two days of headaches and skin swelling followed, all because he thought a small splash on his wrist was nothing. This taught all of us something simple but important—hazardous chemicals don’t care if you’re in a rush or tired.
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) back this up with detail. Handling, accidental contact, improper storage, or forgetting to close the air flow hood—each increases real harm risk. Backroom stories like these play out often among young lab workers and seasoned chemists as well. The bottom line—strong toxicity means every step, from storage to disposal, matters.
Direct action means locking away high-risk chemicals, tracking access, and updating personal protection equipment (PPE) protocols every time something changes. I’ve seen upgrades, like using double nitrile gloves and face shields instead of basic lab glasses, make a real difference for teams.
Regular refresher trainings lead to behavior changes, so mistakes slip way down. Clear warning labels and detailed instructions settled next to the reagent containers go further than expecting people to remember rules from a single training. I keep extra gloves near the chemical cabinets and make sure emergency showers are always clear of clutter—from personal experience, you don’t want to fish through a pile of boxes after a spill.
If you see 4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone on a shelf or supply order, consider it toxic until proven otherwise. Treating it with respect isn’t paranoia—it’s common sense grounded in science and in the realities of chemical work. Following these habits doesn’t just protect health in the short term; it keeps labs operating safely and responsibly, year after year.
People see long, tricky names for compounds and often tune out. In reality, these scientific details shape everyday experiences—medicines, food flavorings, perfumes, crop protection, and all kinds of advanced materials. Take 4-Chloro-4'-fluorobutyrophenone. If you look up its formula, you see C10H10ClFO. The molecular weight clocks in at about 200.64 g/mol.
When folks work in a lab, they don’t just toss powders together and hope for the best. A precise molecular formula keeps things safe and predictable. C10H10ClFO tells you exactly how many carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and oxygen atoms come with each molecule. That isn’t just a trivia fact—it guides dosing, labeling, storage, waste management, and almost every step in making products safely. Past experiences working with similar halogenated ketones showed me that even a small miscalculation in batch size, based on molecular weight, can throw off an entire synthesis or make cleanup much riskier.
Molecular weight, in practice, feeds into how much of a compound fits into a vial, what transport rules apply, and what safety data sheets say about exposure. A compound with fluorine or chlorine isn’t just a chemical curiosity. Fluorine brings toughness and resistance, seen in high-performance plastics and pharmaceuticals. Chlorine can alter a biological pathway or boost solubility. Getting this chemical’s formula straight helps regulators set safety standards and helps supply chains stay smooth. Working directly in chemical storage, I learned quickly that knowing the difference between, say, a 200-gram-per-mole and a 400-gram-per-mole material can mean the difference between needing a regular cabinet or a special ventilated hood.
Mistakes in reporting molecular weight or structure keep happening. It starts small: a catalog typo or a misread label. Consequences stretch fast—from a botched laboratory reaction to toxic spills. Academic journals and chemical suppliers have clamped down by double- and triple-checking identities. Still, real progress comes only after fostering a culture that pays attention to these details from the start. Having worked through product recalls and clean-up protocols caused by incorrect structural formulas, I can tell—no safety poster in the world beats hands-on training and an environment where people cross-check data.
Nobody solves these issues alone. Labs, industry regulators, and information systems have to work together. Digitizing chemical inventories, with barcode scanning and strict approval chains, helps track what’s present and cuts the odds of mix-ups. More widespread use of spectral libraries and in-house NMR or IR verification stops most confusion at the door. Schools should give students real exposure to analytical chemistry, not just rote memorization. Fluency in formulas, structures, and weights means less waste, less danger, and more confidence on the job.
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