What is para-Chlorobenzyl Chloride
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
20.7%
Neutral
28.0%
Bearish
51.3%
What's driving sentiment this week:
Past Week (2026-06-01 to 2026-06-07) — Sentiment: Bearish
Supply constraints persist as sustained disruptions in the Hormuz Strait and Middle East conflicts continue to limit crude and naphtha flows into Asian aromatics chains, reducing feedstock availability for para-Chlorobenzyl Chloride production as of 2026-06-07.
Demand pressure remains muted given the constrained supply environment, with no notable upticks in downstream consumption or inventory restocking reported in the period ending 2026-06-07.
Geopolitical instability coupled with OPEC+ production adjustments aiming to stabilize markets add bearish pressure by moderating aromatic intermediate prices feeding para-Chlorobenzyl Chloride production as of early June.
This Week (2026-06-08 to 2026-06-14) — Outlook: Bearish
Downstream production of para-Chlorobenzyl Chloride faces ongoing naphtha feedstock tightness, sustaining downward price pressure through mid-June.
The next critical catalyst is the anticipated inventory data release mid-week (expected 2026-06-10), which could confirm further crude and naphtha drawdowns exacerbating raw material cost pressures.
A sudden easing of Hormuz Strait disruptions would pose the main risk to the bearish outlook by alleviating crude and naphtha shortages, potentially stabilizing downstream aromatic production.
Key Market Impact
Naphtha feedstock scarcity driven by geopolitical and crude supply disruptions dominates price pressure and capacity utilization metrics in para-Chlorobenzyl Chloride production.
Market participants are likely to maintain conservative purchasing and run-rate strategies, minimizing inventory builds amid uncertain supply and price volatility.
How About the Price?
Price Trajectory 2020–2026 (Brief Recap)
Phase 1 — Stability and gradual increase (2020–2022): Prices rose from $2.80/kg in January 2020 to $3.40/kg in January 2022, while no specific influence factors were logged during this period.
Phase 2 — Initial decline (2023–2024): Price decreased to $3.20/kg in January 2023 and further down to $2.90/kg by January 2024, with the influence logs remaining blank indicating absence of reported events.
Phase 3 — Continued decrease (2025–mid 2026): Prices declined steadily from $2.70/kg in January 2025 to $2.40/kg by June 2026, with no events recorded to explain the drop.
Supply-side factors
- No supply-side factors recorded in the influence log; data unavailable for 2020–2026.
Demand-side factors
- No demand-side factors recorded in the influence log; data unavailable for 2020–2026.
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| ortho-Chlorobenzyl chloride (2-chlorobenzyl chloride) | Used as a direct structural isomer substitute in alkylation reactions where the position of the ring chlorine is not critical to the target molecule's activity. In some pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediates, the ortho-isomer can replace the para-isomer when the synthesis target tolerates positional variation, though it typically requires re-evaluation of biological activity and physicochemical properties. Not a drop-in replacement where para-selectivity is specified. |
| Benzyl chloride (chloromethylbenzene) | Substitutes in alkylation and benzylation reactions where the ring chlorine substituent of para-chlorobenzyl chloride is not required in the final product. Used as a simpler, lower-cost benzylating agent in synthesis of benzyl ethers, esters, and amines when the para-chloro group serves no functional role. Requires reformulation of the synthetic route since the resulting product lacks the aryl chlorine. |
| para-Chlorobenzyl bromide (4-chlorobenzyl bromide) | A direct functional substitute as a more reactive benzyl halide in alkylation, Grignard preparation, and coupling reactions where higher reactivity is needed or milder conditions are desired. Used in pharmaceutical synthesis when the bromide leaving group offers advantages (e.g., Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling). More expensive than the chloride; essentially a drop-in replacement in most alkylation chemistry with adjustment of reaction conditions. |
| para-Chlorobenzyl alcohol (4-chlorobenzyl alcohol) | Substitutes in esterification and etherification reactions where the alcohol can be activated in situ (e.g., via Mitsunobu reaction or mesylation/tosylation) to achieve the same alkylation outcome. Used in pharmaceutical synthesis when the chloride is too reactive or when a cleaner reaction profile is needed. Requires additional activation steps; not a direct drop-in replacement. |
| para-Chlorobenzaldehyde (4-chlorobenzaldehyde) | Substitutes in reductive amination and condensation reactions where the aldehyde can serve as a precursor to the same para-chlorobenzyl-containing motif via reduction. Used in synthesis of para-chlorobenzyl amines and alcohols as an alternative starting material. Requires a reduction step (e.g., NaBH4, catalytic hydrogenation) and is not a direct alkylating agent; represents a route-level substitution rather than a reagent-level drop-in. |
| 4-Chlorobenzyl mesylate or tosylate | Substitutes as an alkylating agent in reactions where the chloride leaving group causes side reactions or where a more controlled reactivity profile is needed (e.g., in N-alkylation of sensitive nucleophiles). Prepared from para-chlorobenzyl alcohol; used in pharmaceutical synthesis under conditions incompatible with the benzyl chloride. Requires additional synthetic steps and higher cost; not a commodity substitute. |
| para-Fluorobenzyl chloride (4-fluorobenzyl chloride) | Substitutes in medicinal chemistry and agrochemical synthesis where a fluorine atom at the para position can bioisosterically replace chlorine, often improving metabolic stability or membrane permeability of the target molecule. Used when the para-halogen is part of the pharmacophore and fluorine is preferred. Requires re-evaluation of biological activity; not a drop-in replacement but a deliberate design substitution. |
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU | Registration under REACH (EC No. 203-242-7) | European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) | 2007 | Substance registered; no specific exposure or emission limits identified in public dossier summaries | REACH registration data (ECHA) |
| US | Listed on TSCA Inventory | US EPA | 1979 (TSCA enactment); inventory listing continued | Active in TSCA Chemical Substances Inventory (40 CFR Part 710) | EPA TSCA database / EPA DSSTox |
| Global (IMDG/ADR) | IMDG Code / ADR Dangerous Goods Regulations | IMO (for IMDG); UNECE (for ADR) | IMDG 2025; ADR 2025 | UN No. 3427; Hazard Class 6.1; Packing Group III; Marine Pollutant | UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (IMDG/ADR) |
| Global (WTO HS) | Harmonized System Tariff Classification | World Customs Organization (WTO) | HS 2017 edition (current) | HS Code 2903999090; MFN tariff rate 5.5%; no anti-dumping duties or export controls identified | HS Tariff Database (WTO) |
Key Influence Events
para-Chlorobenzyl chloride (4-chlorobenzyl chloride; CAS 104-83-6) is an aromatic organochlorine compound with the molecular formula C7H5Cl2 and a molecular weight of 161.03 g/mol. It consists of a benzene ring bearing a chlorine substituent at the para position and a chloromethyl (–CH2Cl) side chain. It is a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a pungent, lachrymatory odor, a boiling point of approximately 222–224 °C, and a density of about 1.27 g/cm³. The compound is practically insoluble in water but miscible with common organic solvents. It is a reactive benzyl halide used primarily as an alkylating and acylating intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, dyes, and specialty chemicals, and it is classified as a lachrymator and skin/respiratory irritant requiring careful handling.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of para-Chlorobenzyl Chloride
para-Chlorobenzyl chloride (4-chlorobenzyl chloride; CAS 104-83-6) is an aromatic organochlorine compound with the molecular formula C7H5Cl2 and a molecular weight of 161.03 g/mol. It consists of a benzene ring bearing a chlorine substituent at the para position and a chloromethyl (–CH2Cl) side chain. It is a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a pungent, lachrymatory odor, a boiling point of approximately 222–224 °C, and a density of about 1.27 g/cm³. The compound is practically insoluble in water but miscible with common organic solvents. It is a reactive benzyl halide used primarily as an alkylating and acylating intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, dyes, and specialty chemicals, and it is classified as a lachrymator and skin/respiratory irritant requiring careful handling.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow clear liquid | — | Technical & Pharma |
| Purity (GC) | ≥98.0 | % | Technical grade |
| Purity (GC) | ≥99.0 | % | High-purity / Pharma grade |
| para-isomer content | ≥97.0 | % | Technical grade |
| para-isomer content | ≥98.5 | % | High-purity grade |
| ortho-Chlorobenzyl chloride (impurity) | ≤2.0 | % | Technical grade |
| ortho-Chlorobenzyl chloride (impurity) | ≤1.0 | % | High-purity grade |
| Benzyl chloride (impurity) | ≤0.5 | % | Both grades |
| para-Dichlorobenzene (impurity) | ≤0.3 | % | Both grades |
| Boiling Point | 222–224 | °C at 760 mmHg | — |
| Density (20 °C) | 1.265–1.275 | g/cm³ | — |
| Refractive Index (n²⁰D) | 1.554–1.558 | — | — |
| Water content (Karl Fischer) | ≤0.10 | % | Both grades |
| Color (APHA) | ≤30 | Hazen | Technical grade |
| Color (APHA) | ≤15 | Hazen | High-purity grade |
| Flash Point (closed cup) | ~100 | °C | — |
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