Methyl Chloride (CH₃CI)

Methyl chloride is produced by the vapor phase reaction of methanol and hydrogen chloride:

Many catalysts are used to effect the reaction, such as zinc chloride on pumice, cuprous chloride, and ignited alumina gel. The reaction conditions are 350°C at nearly atmospheric pressure. The yield is approximately 95%.

Zinc chloride is also a catalyst for a liquid-phase process using concentrated hydrochloric acid at 100–150°C. Hydrochloric acid may be generated in situ by reacting sodium chloride with sulfuric acid. As mentioned earlier, methyl chloride may also be produced directly from methane with other chloromethanes. However, methyl chloride from methanol may be further chlorinated to produce dichloromethane, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride. Methyl chloride is primarily an intermediate for the production of other chemicals. Other uses of methyl chloride have been mentionedwith chloromethanes.