3-Chlorobenzamide
[CAS# 618-48-4]

Identification

• Classification: Chemical reagent >> Organic reagent >> Amide
• Name: 3-Chlorobenzamide
• Molecular Formula: C₇H₆ClNO
• Molecular Weight: 155.58
• CAS Registry Number: 618-48-4
• EC Number: 210-554-7
• SMILES: C1=CC(=CC(=C1)Cl)C(=O)N

Properties

• Density: 1.3±0.1 g/cm³ Calc.^*
• Melting point: 133 - 136 °C (Expl.)
• Boiling point: 273.7±23.0 °C 760 mmHg (Calc.)^*
• Flash point: 119.4±22.6 °C (Calc.)^*
• Index of refraction: 1.582 (Calc.)^*

^* Calculated using Advanced Chemistry Development (ACD/Labs) Software.

Safety Data

• Hazard Symbols: GHS07 Warning
• Risk Statements: H302-H315-H317-H319-H335
• Safety Statements: P261-P264-P264+P265-P270-P271-P272-P280-P301+P317-P302+P352-P304+P340-P305+P351+P338-P319-P321-P330-P332+P317-P333+P317-P337+P317-P362+P364-P403+P233-P405-P501

Hazard Classification

Hazard	Class	Category Code	Hazard Statement
Acute toxicity	Acute Tox.	4	H302
Eye irritation	Eye Irrit.	2	H319
Skin sensitization	Skin Sens.	1	H317
Acute toxicity	Acute Tox.	4	H312
Skin irritation	Skin Irrit.	2	H315
Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure	STOT SE	3	H335
Acute toxicity	Acute Tox.	4	H332
Eye irritation	Eye Irrit.	2A	H319

Discovery and Applications

3-Chlorobenzamide is an aromatic carboxamide compound derived from benzoic acid, where the benzene ring is substituted with a chlorine atom at the meta (3-) position relative to the amide functional group. Its molecular structure consists of a benzene ring bearing a chlorine substituent and an amide group (-CONH₂), which makes it a relatively simple yet functionally significant building block in organic and medicinal chemistry.

This compound is typically synthesized through the conversion of 3-chlorobenzoic acid or its esters into the corresponding amide via amidation reactions. These transformations commonly involve activation of the carboxylic acid functionality using coupling agents or acid chlorides, followed by reaction with ammonia or amine derivatives under mild conditions. The synthesis is well established and scalable for laboratory and industrial applications.

As a member of the substituted benzamides, 3-chlorobenzamide exhibits key physicochemical properties including moderate polarity, hydrogen bonding capability through the amide group, and the electronic effects of the chlorine substituent. The presence of chlorine at the 3-position influences the electron distribution on the aromatic ring, affecting reactivity in electrophilic aromatic substitution and its interaction with biological targets when incorporated into larger pharmacophores.

Substituted benzamides like 3-chlorobenzamide are of interest in medicinal chemistry due to their potential to modulate biological activity when integrated into drug-like molecules. Benzamide frameworks are commonly found in various therapeutic agents, particularly those acting on the central nervous system, gastrointestinal system, and as anti-inflammatory or anticancer agents. Although 3-chlorobenzamide itself is not a widely used pharmaceutical agent, it serves as a useful intermediate or reference compound in structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies.

The amide group in 3-chlorobenzamide can be modified or extended to yield N-substituted analogues, providing routes to synthesize a variety of derivatives with different biological profiles. Additionally, the compound’s aromatic ring offers multiple sites for further substitution or functional group transformation, enabling the design of more complex molecular architectures.

In conclusion, 3-chlorobenzamide is a synthetically accessible and functionally versatile compound, used primarily as an intermediate in the preparation of bioactive molecules. Its stability, defined electronic properties, and amenability to derivatization make it a valuable tool in the development of new compounds in both research and applied chemical contexts.