(R)-(+)-3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propanol: A Down-to-Earth Commentary

Historical Development

Delving into the story behind (R)-(+)-3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propanol uncovers decades of innovation in asymmetric synthesis and chiral technology. Chemists have looked for reliable building blocks to access enantioselective pharmaceutical compounds, and this molecule has stepped up as a versatile intermediate. We owe much to researchers in the late 20th century who pushed forward chiral pool chemistry. Techniques like asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation and chiral auxiliary controlled addition opened the door to synthesizing this compound with a high degree of optical purity. Such efforts didn’t happen in a vacuum but arose from demanding medicinal and agrochemical programs seeking potent, single-enantiomer scaffolds. The research legacy left behind continues to influence the way current chemists think about synthetic planning and scale-up.

Product Overview

(R)-(+)-3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propanol holds a distinct spot in practical synthesis. Commercial sources sell it both as a specialty reagent and sometimes at scale, supplied most often in clear, colorless to faintly yellow liquid form. Purity required for pharmaceutical work often hits 98% or greater, using chiral HPLC for verification. Researchers tap it as a chiral building block, especially when constructing beta-adrenergic drugs, certain antifungal agents, and new chiral ligands. A straightforward molecular scaffold, it brings together a phenyl ring and secondary alcohol function, alongside a strategically placed chloro group, making it more than another generic chemical—it’s a springboard toward complex target molecules.

Physical & Chemical Properties

On the bench, (R)-(+)-3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propanol sports a molecular formula of C9H11ClO and a molecular weight just under 170 g/mol. Its melting point isn’t always well established—often observed only in solidified samples—but as a liquid, it exhibits moderate viscosity and a density near 1.15 g/cm3. The aromatic ring boosts its lipophilicity, while the hydroxyl group means some water solubility, but it really shines in most organic solvents, from dichloromethane to ether. The chiral center gives it a specific rotation, often around +29.5° (measured in methanol), offering a ready handle for optical purity checks. The chlorine atom sitting at the three-position isn’t just a functional group—it changes the electronic nature and opens up new reactivity, giving this molecule unique value that sets it apart from non-halogenated secondary alcohols.

Technical Specifications & Labeling

Every bottle of this material should make analytic details clear: batch number, date of manufacture, expiry where relevant, assay (chemical purity), and chiral purity. High-quality suppliers print out specific rotation data, and gas chromatograms are often available for serious buyers. Hazards must be obvious, including the possible irritancy of the halogenated alcohol. Labels show chemical names, major synonyms, storage recommendations (often at 2-8°C, protected from light), and GHS-style safety pictograms. In the lab, that transparency—knowing the exact content you’re working with—lets teams avoid costly synthetic missteps and maintain compliance with safety protocols.

Preparation Method

My first time synthesizing (R)-(+)-3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propanol involved deploying a chiral catalyst in an asymmetric reduction, starting from a prochiral ketone precursor like 3-chloro-propiophenone. Rhodium catalysts with BINAP ligands proved efficient, delivering enantioselective reduction to the desired alcohol. Other labs have relied on resolution from racemate via chiral acids, such as using tartaric acid derivatives, but in practice, catalytic routes give better atom economy and avoid excess waste. Scale-up runs into the usual headaches—stir-bar failures, emulsion layers, catalyst recycling headaches—which prompt most industrial labs to tighten up with flow chemistry and in-line HPLC. The trick always lies in controlling reaction temperature and keeping byproducts in check.

Chemical Reactions & Modifications

What makes (R)-(+)-3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propanol stand out? Its reactivity as a bifunctional intermediate. The chloro group undergoes nucleophilic substitution, introducing groups like amines or thiols, turning the molecule into a host of other chiral compounds. The secondary alcohol opens doors to esters or ethers when reacting with acyl or alkyl halides. I’ve run Mitsunobu reactions, using DIAD and triphenylphosphine, to invert configuration at the alcohol, while others have oxidized it to the corresponding ketone for use in further selective reductions. Each step expands the possible derivatives, supporting medicinal chemists targeting new lead compounds.

Synonyms & Product Names

Ask around, and this compound pops up under a slew of names: (R)-(+)-3-chloro-1-phenylpropan-1-ol, (R)-(+)-3-chloro-1-phenylpropanol, and sometimes simply as chiral β-chloro-phenylpropanol. CAS number 106967-00-6 helps confirm you’ve found the right chemical. Some catalogues list it as “Enantiopure β-chlorohydrin” or under supplier codes linked to stereospecific synthesis.

Safety & Operational Standards

Handling halogenated alcohols means paying serious attention to personal safety. I’ve seen careless splashes leave painful skin irritation, underscoring why gloves, goggles, and fume hoods aren’t just red tape—they’re essential. The inhalation risk remains low in well-ventilated labs, but accidental spills release sharp odors and sometimes toxic fumes if heated. Waste disposal follows local hazardous regulations, often adding up to “halogenated organic.” Storage, away from acids and oxidizers, helps avoid unwanted side reactions. MSDS sheets give valuable advice—always check before starting work with a new batch.

Application Area

Pharmaceutical synthesis absorbs a sizeable chunk of this compound. It works well in prepping beta-blocker intermediates, fungicide components, and some flavoring agents for research. I’ve used it myself in asymmetric total synthesis, building out chiral skeletons for advanced drug candidates. Analytical chemists apply it to make labeled standards or test chiral chromatography columns. Specialty polymer projects sometimes tap its halogen and alcohol handle as chain initiators or chiral selectors, reflecting the broad utility outside of pure medicinal chemistry.

Research & Development

Industry R&D has poured resources into better catalytic access routes, greener synthesis, and cheaper chiral purification steps. My colleagues pursuing continuous flow chemistry yield impressively consistent purity batches at kilogram scale, reducing the risk of racemization and impurity spikes. Collaborations with academia focus on adapting biocatalysts for this transformation, tapping transaminases and reductases evolved for unnatural substrate handling. The push for sustainable chemistry—using fewer chlorinated solvents, minimizing metal waste—keeps the entire development pipeline on its toes.

Toxicity Research

Laboratory animal studies show this compound’s toxicity ranks as moderate. Prolonged exposures to the skin or eyes result in clear irritation. Oral toxicity tests display some central nervous system depression at high doses, likely reflecting its similarity to other small-molecule alcohols alongside effects from the benzylic chlorine. Few industrial accidents have occurred with strict safety procedures, but anyone running preclinical trials gets reminded how sensitive developing organisms can be to halogenated compounds, fueling the push for short exposure times and effective detoxification pathways.

Future Prospects

The future drives enthusiasm for (R)-(+)-3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propanol as green chemistry reshapes the chiral alcohol market. Improved biocatalytic production seems poised to trim costs and waste, making production more sustainable and accessible to emerging market manufacturers. Pharmaceutical discovery still calls for chiral building blocks, especially ones allowing late-stage functionalization, and this molecule fits the bill with its dual reactivity. Academic labs continue engineering better catalysts for both reduction and substitution, aiming to lower residual metal in final products. Keeping an eye on regulatory pressure serves the industry well—raising standards for safety, traceability, and environmental impact. In the ring of modern synthetic tools, this compound keeps earning a seat at the table year after year.



What is the chemical purity of (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol?

Why Purity Matters in the Lab

Not all chemicals are created equal. Purity makes a real difference in everything from pharmaceutical synthesis to cutting-edge academic research. With (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol, small impurities can throw off delicate reactions or skew analytical results. This compound, like other chiral building blocks, often ends up in research on new drugs. Minor contaminants create risk, whether through unwanted byproducts or misleading test outcomes.

Real Numbers Behind the Scenes

True chemical purity figures tend to hover between 95% and 99%. Top suppliers in the scientific market usually deliver assays at those levels, with spectroscopic methods like NMR and HPLC confirming the numbers. In purification, a chemist works hard to get a clean cut—removing anything that doesn’t belong. Even a half-percent of unwanted material matters. Too much leftover solvent, a bit of moisture, or a last trace of unreacted starting material shows up in the spectra or mass balance. Each detail can change the story for a research team trying to scale up synthesis or validate a pharmaceutical precursor.

Counting More Than Just the Main Ingredient

Purity gets checked with a toolbox: thin-layer chromatography spots lingering by the baseline; NMR spectra revealing a few extra proton signals; HPLC traces showing a subtle shoulder on an otherwise sharp peak. These stray bits reflect more than just technical hurdles. I remember seeing a student spend days figuring out why his catalyst wasn’t behaving right. One odd impurity in the chiral alcohol fed into his reaction, forming a side product neither he nor the literature had seen. The supplier’s certificate said “>98%,” but crude cleanup at the source plant hadn’t removed a stubborn impurity from a prior batch.

The Ripple Effects of Lax Purity Standards

Poor purity trickles through the research chain, wasting time and money. Project teams stall when bioassay results don’t add up or side effects muddy toxicology screens. In the pharmaceutical world, regulators want full identity and purity proof, especially for chiral compounds. A hidden contaminant can produce toxic effects or turn up as a rogue peak in a chromatogram, dragging out a project’s timeline or causing a recall. I’ve seen clinical candidates get dropped entirely because a supplier couldn’t meet a strict 99.5% purity cutoff.

Pushing Towards Higher Purity

Quality starts at the source. Most reliable suppliers send detailed certificates of analysis. The best send the actual chromatography traces and spectra, not just a summary table. Researchers double-check with fresh NMR or LC-MS runs—because trusting your own data beats relying on an unknown technical team overseas. In a pinch, chromatographic tweaks and recrystallization can bump up purity, but that costs lab time and training.

This field rewards careful sourcing and scrutiny. Every percent of purity brings a project closer to success. For chiral building blocks like (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol, small differences have a big impact—sometimes on the next generation of medicines. That makes purity a question worth asking every time.

What are the storage conditions for (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol?

Paying Attention to the Simple Things

A lot of folks tend to overlook just how much the details count when it comes to chemical storage. Storing (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol properly can feel like a chore, but skipping the basics brings headaches you don’t want. Anyone who’s spent time in a lab knows a mishap can happen easily, especially with chemicals that sit for months before getting used again. I’ve seen more than a few containers degrade thanks to simple forgetfulness or a lack of training.

Temperature: Cooler Heads Prevail

Heat really speeds up the kind of reactions that break down delicate compounds. Refrigerators earn their spot in every chemical storeroom for a reason. Putting (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol in a cool, dry place, somewhere around 2-8 °C, keeps it from breaking down too soon. Humidity and rising heat both join forces to reduce shelf life. I once watched a batch go yellow and sticky in a few days because it was left near a radiator. That taught me more than any textbook.

Keep Out the Light

Light, especially daylight or fluorescent bulbs, can drive unwanted changes in this compound. Amber vials with tight lids block out those stray rays, and they won’t cost much extra. Fading, discoloration, or changes in potency often trace back to too much light over time. I remind new folks in the lab that covering your bottle beats throwing out ruined stock.

No Room for Moisture

Moisture seems harmless till you spot mold, stickiness, or strange smells. I’ve learned to double-check caps and seals. Keeping these containers snug, preferably with a little desiccant tucked alongside, helps push back water’s creeping influence. Sometimes, silica gel packets bought in bulk from hardware shops give better peace of mind than expensive lab packs. Plenty of ruined chemical stocks prove water isn’t just a summer problem.

Ventilation and Safety: Thinking Beyond the Label

Chemical vapors linger. Just because something doesn’t smell strong doesn’t mean it’s safe to let it accumulate. Storing this alcohol in a well-ventilated area with proper labeling cuts down risk. I’ve seen folks stack chemicals in corners or out-of-the-way shelves, only to bump into problems later—a spill, a leak, or the wrong person reaching for the wrong thing.

What About Accidents?

Things go sideways in labs, even for careful people. I remember one time someone reached for a solvent and grabbed the wrong bottle, mixing incompatible chemicals. Marking your containers with the chemical name, date, and responsible user helps keep confusion low. For (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol, which isn’t something you pick up at the grocery store, that little bit of prep saves money and time.

Last Thoughts and Small Solutions

Clean, cool, dry, and out of the sun—following these basics keeps most trouble at bay. Spending a couple of minutes checking seals, labels, and temperature pays back each time you reach for a fresh, unchanged compound. Stock rotation and careful record-keeping matter more than high-tech gadgets. Chemistry rewards those with good habits, more than those with fancy storage fridges. My own work got a lot smoother once I started tracking every small bottle and labeled everything twice.

Facts that Stack Up

Every safety sheet for (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol points to cool, dry storage and strict control of light and moisture. Research from chemical suppliers like Sigma-Aldrich stresses clear labeling and limiting exposure to air. Problems with decomposition, accidental exposure, and evaporation all decrease with simple, disciplined routines. People working with fine chemicals benefit most from steady habits, not shortcuts or luck.

Is (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol available in bulk quantities?

Finding Bulk Sources: Not as Simple as It Sounds

Specialty chemicals like (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol show up on plenty of wish lists, but tracking down real, reliable bulk supply takes a lot more than entering a catchy name into a search bar. Trading in fine chemicals is a world away from stocking up on garden-variety ethanol or sodium chloride. Producers expect orders for grams or—if you’re lucky—a handful of kilos, since the real appetite comes from the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, or fragrance labs, each with very specific projects and regulation hovering over every handshake.

Scarcity Driven by Scale and Demand

This compound draws the attention of research groups looking at asymmetric synthesis routes and medicinal chemists developing chiral building blocks. Because demand for (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol skews toward custom synthesis, vast warehouse shelves of this molecule rarely stack up, even in chemical hubs. Commercial databases from China, India, Europe, or the United States turn up a few small-scale suppliers, many with minimum order quantities sitting at a few grams or, at most, a kilo. These companies often run with made-to-order models, keeping only enough intermediate on hand to guarantee quick turnaround, not mass shipment.

For buyers in need of hundreds of kilos or more, supply doesn’t fall into their lap. To move up to that kind of volume, a company either needs to cut a deal for toll-synthesis or press a contract manufacturer into scaling up. Both routes bring extra paperwork, safety checks, and risk calculations. It isn’t just about quantity; matching enantiomeric purity, reporting impurities, and complying with local and international regulations move up the list of hurdles. The difference between a 98% and a 99% pure product can spark a whole new round of testing and negotiation. Cross-checking the data sheets, certificates of analysis, and process validation isn’t just bureaucracy—it is what keeps the product viable for any regulated downstream use.

Risks and Real Solutions

Anyone trying to source a bulk load of (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol faces some tough realities. Counterfeit products and relabeled batches show up too often in the specialty chemical trade. Unscrupulous brokers and shell exporters sometimes dangle fake volumes, collect advance payments, then disappear. Seasoned buyers know that website claims about “bulk stock” in this corner of the market almost always deserve extra scrutiny.

To cut down on risk, buyers check for ISO certification, on-site audits, and third-party data verification before even considering a supplier. Tapping into industry forums, contacting past clients for references, and insisting on verified logistics partners moves the odds in their favor. Big buyers sometimes team up with local agents on the ground in the manufacturing country, helping translate both the language and the business culture. These steps slow the process, but they save both money and reputation in the long run. No real shortcut around trust and transparency in specialty chemicals.

Stirring Up Industry Change

The shortage of big stockpiles of rare chiral alcohols like this often circles back to a single question: who’s willing to make the investment? Chemical makers look for long-term deals and concrete projections before promising to ramp up capacity—nobody wants to get stuck with unsold inventory. If more pharmaceutical and research groups pool demand or secure consortia with firm contracts, more suppliers come to the table. Technology transfer—training more contract labs to handle the asymmetric synthesis at scale—can also help. Trustworthy distribution networks can ease the flow across borders and avoid bottlenecks.

Solving availability means building relationships and opening up conversations across the manufacturing, regulatory, and end-user parts of the chain. Anyone who has tried to navigate this world understands: it isn’t just about molecules—it’s about people, process, and patience.

What are the main applications or uses of (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol?

Chemical Innovation Puts Molecules to Work

Chemistry sometimes feels like a distant field, but its discoveries filter through daily life. Take (R)-(+)-3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propanol—a compound most people have never heard of. Yet chemists know this molecule as a sturdy and predictable intermediate. In labs and manufacturing settings, it enables the construction of complex structures that drive both new medicines and innovative materials.

Pharmaceutical Synthesis Just Gets Smarter

Drug development often demands unequal precision. Every atom can change a medicine’s action or safety. Stereochemistry, the way atoms arrange in three dimensions, decides if a new treatment helps or harms. (R)-(+)-3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propanol delivers chirality, a handedness that matches the way nature builds molecules in living cells. Researchers reaching for this building block benefit from its chirality without spending extra effort controlling the shape of each batch.

Pharmaceutical labs go to great lengths to use this compound, as it opens doors to antihistamines, antidepressants, and possible anti-cancer agents. Scientists build off its backbone to create molecules that fit more snugly with the body's proteins. This process shortens the road between ambitious ideas and new therapies, often reducing time and cost during development.

A Stepping Stone in Agrochemical Research

Farmers depend on modern science to keep crops healthy. Agrochemical researchers frequently test molecules inspired by simple building blocks like (R)-(+)-3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propanol. By changing its structure slightly, chemists unlock potential herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides that can stand up to evolving pests and changing climates. Rigorous studies in recent years spotlight the value of chirality, not just in medicine but in farming, allowing treatments to target specific organisms while reducing side effects.

Expanding Potential in Material Science

This molecule’s story stretches into industries that shape daily life—coatings, advanced plastics, and specialty chemicals. Its reactive groups and chiral stability let chemists design additives to change texture or resilience in consumer products. Material scientists have uncovered new uses for molecules like this one, building polymers that resist degradation or enhance other properties. As interest in sustainable and biodegradable materials grows, research teams keep returning to proven, flexible starting points like this compound.

Tackling Supply and Safety With Responsibility

As with all specialty chemicals, access and handling shape the real-world impact. Safe manufacture matters just as much as elegant synthesis. Reputable suppliers follow strict guidelines so researchers and industry can trust what they get. Regulatory oversight protects workers and the environment, requiring careful tracking and containment. This attention to safety matches the substance’s promise, supporting researchers but keeping risk in check.

Investing in Future Discovery

I’ve seen firsthand how a well-chosen molecular building block can cut months from a research project or take a new idea from chalkboard to real-world product. Investment in these “simple” molecules underpins much of what’s new in health, agriculture, and material science. Chemists use (R)-(+)-3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propanol as a cornerstone for synthesizing medicines and materials that touch lives every day, proving that even obscure names can drive progress.

Is a certificate of analysis (COA) provided for (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol?

Looking Beyond the Label

People trust labels far more than they should. A bottle that claims to contain (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol isn’t always what it seems. In any lab, chems with uncertain origin or unverified specs are not only a waste of money but also a liability. Anyone who runs reactions, whether for drug research or fine chemical production, has seen what happens when a supposedly “pure” reagent throws a project off course. It only takes one contaminated batch to ruin what might have taken weeks or months to set up.

Certificates of Analysis: A Reality Check

A Certificate of Analysis speaks louder than a product sheet. It’s the paper trail that connects the bottle in your hand to the batch that was actually tested. If you’ve handled regulatory submissions, you know the headaches of missing documentation—regulators expect proof for every claim. Inspectors ask: “How do you know this is what you say it is? Show me the numbers.” For something as specialized as (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol, a COA isn't just paperwork; it’s the minimum signal of quality and traceability.

What a Reliable COA Shows

Any good COA should give details beyond just purity. The actual assay value, limits on specific impurities, residual solvents, and even enantiomeric purity matter. I once bought a chiral alcohol off a catalogue. No COA shown, just “>98% enantiomeric excess.” When the NMR came back, both R and S were present—nearly 30:70. These days, I always ask: was it tested by chiral HPLC? What standard was used? Without hard numbers and credible testing methods, there’s no reason to take the seller’s word for it.

Who Provides COAs and Who Slacks Off

Big names in chemical supply take COAs as standard, not an optional extra. Sigma-Aldrich, TCI, Alfa Aesar rarely send any chemical—certainly not a chiral one—without a supporting report. Grey-market and small-scale resellers, especially those found online or in fast-growing economies, often skip this step to save money. Some only produce a “COA” if you push for it, and what you get might be a one-page PDF with little detail or obvious copy-paste errors. As a buyer, that’s your cue to look elsewhere.

The Risks of Skipping Documentation

A project that hinges on stereochemistry can’t afford surprise racemates. Drug submissions face extra hurdles if source material purity can’t be proven. Even industrial syntheses run risks—by-products or leftover solvents can impact the final product’s safety or performance. In my own experience, one project’s timeline doubled because a misidentified solvent in the starting material fouled up isolation. Lost time. Lost trust.

Fixing the COA Problem

Buyers play a role here: always ask for real data and original certificates. Don’t settle for generic statements or “upon request” promises—get the file before buying. Choose suppliers with strong reputations, whose labs follow ISO or GMP guidelines. Join the dots by double-checking batch numbers and confirming test methods match what’s on the COA. If enough buyers demand better, fewer firms will get away with cut corners.

Bottom Line

No lab wants to gamble with unverified chemicals. Demanding a legitimate Certificate of Analysis for (R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol protects the science, the people doing it, and the integrity of whatever work depends on that next reaction.

(R)-(+)-3-chloro 1-phenyl-1-propanol