3,4-Dichlorocinnamic acid

3,4-Dichlorocinnamic acid is a pentane that has a molecular weight of 144.2 g/mol and melting point of -12 °C. It is soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol and acetone, but insoluble in water. 3,4-Dichlorocinnamic acid is an intermediate in the synthesis of cinnamates from phenylacetic acid and chloroform via methyl esterification with methanol followed by alkylation with chlorine. The reaction rate for this conversion is slow, making it difficult to produce at commercial scale. 3,4-Dichlorocinnamic acid can be obtained by irradiation of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol with ultraviolet light or by heating hydrotalcite at high temperatures. Hydrotalcite is heated to 600°C where it reacts with air to form 3,4-dichlorocinnamic acid and