4-Chloroaniline is a organochlorine compound with the formula ClC₆H₄NH₂. This pale yellow solid is one of several known chloroaniline

Aniline

Aniline, phenylamine or aminobenzene is an organic compound with the formula C6H5NH2. Consisting of a phenyl group attached to an amino group, aniline is the prototypical aromatic amine. Being a precursor to many industrial chemicals, its main use is in the manufacture of precursors to polyurethane...

s.

Preparation

4-Chloroaniline is not prepared from aniline, which tends to overchlorinate. Instead, it is prepared by hydrogenation

Hydrogenation

Hydrogenation, to treat with hydrogen, also a form of chemical reduction, is a chemical reaction between molecular hydrogen and another compound or element, usually in the presence of a catalyst. The process is commonly employed to reduce or saturate organic compounds. Hydrogenation typically...

 of 4-Nitrochlorobenzene

4-Nitrochlorobenzene

4-Nitrochlorobenzene is the organic compound with the formula ClC6H4NO2. This compound is a light yellow crystalline solid that is stable to air...

, which in turn is prepared by nitration

Nitration

Nitration is a general chemical process for the introduction of a nitro group into a chemical compound. The dominant application of nitration is for the production of nitrobenzene, the precursor to methylene diphenyl diisocyanate...

 of chlorobenzene

Chlorobenzene

Chlorobenzene is an aromatic organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5Cl. This colorless, flammable liquid is a common solvent and a widely used intermediate in the manufacture of other chemicals.-Uses:...

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Uses

4-Chloroaniline is an important building block used in the chemical industry for the production of pesticides, drugs, and dyestuffs. It is a precursor to the widely used antimicrobial and bacteriocide Chlorhexidine and is used in the manufacture of pesticides, including pyraclostrobin, anilofos, monolinuron

Monolinuron

Monolinuron is a pesticide, more specifically a selective systemic herbicideand a algaecide. As a herbicide, it is used to control broad-leaved weeds and annual grasses in vegetable crops such as leeks, potatoes and dwarf french beans. Monolinuron affects the photosynthesis in weeds...

 and chlorphthalim. Some benzodiazepine

Benzodiazepine

A benzodiazepine is a psychoactive drug whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring...

drugs use 4-chloroaniline in their manufacture.