1. What is 3,4-Dichlorobenzonitrile?

If you’re familiar with related isomers, you may have encountered 2,4-Dichlorobenzonitrile (CAS 6574-98-7). The key difference lies in chlorine placement: 2,4-Dichlorobenzonitrile has chlorine atoms at the 2- and 4-positions, with a lower melting point (57–61°C). Due to this structural difference, the two isomers react differently in synthesis and cannot be swapped in most commercial production processes—an important detail for buyers to avoid costly mistakes.

For industrial and pharmaceutical buyers, 3,4-Dichlorobenzonitrile (CAS 6574-99-8, often shortened to 3,4-DCBN) is a reliable building block for scaling production of herbicides, fungicides, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), engineering plastics, and specialty dyes. As a chlorinated aromatic nitrile, it features chlorine atoms at the 3- and 4-positions of the benzene ring—this unique structure gives it the reactivity needed for large-scale synthesis.

Basic Chemical Information

Chemical Name: 3,4-Dichlorobenzonitrile

Molecular Formula: C₇H₃Cl₂N

Molecular Weight: 172.01 g/mol

CAS No.: 6574-99-8

EINECS No.: 229-494-8

Appearance: White to off-white crystalline powder

 Click to explore more details

1.1 Physicochemical Properties

When sourcing 3,4-DCBN, these properties directly impact how you handle, store, and integrate the compound into your production—all data is cross-checked against trusted chemical databases and industry handbooks to ensure accuracy:

Melting Point: 71–78°C (lit.)

Boiling Point: 129–130°C at 0.01 Torr; 235.5°C at 760 mmHg

Density: 1.40 ± 0.1 g/cm³

Flash Point: 95°C

Refractive Index: 1.583 (at 20°C)

Vapor Pressure: 0.0498 mmHg at 25°C

Solubility: Insoluble in water; soluble in methanol, ethanol, acetone, and common organic solvents .

1.2 Industrial Value & Applications

3,4-Dichlorobenzonitrile’s value comes from its nitrile (-CN) group, which enables a wide range of downstream reactions—critical for scaling your production efficiently. These include catalytic hydrogenation to 3,4-dichlorobenzylamine, oxidation to 3,4-dichlorobenzoic acid, and various nucleophilic substitution reactions.

For buyers, this translates to three core application areas where 3,4-DCBN excels:

Agrochemical intermediates: 3,4-DCBN is a key building block for herbicides and fungicides, offering targeted selectivity and low toxicity—essential for modern crop protection products.

Pharmaceutical intermediates: It’s a cost-effective choice for constructing complex aromatic structures in API synthesis, helping reduce production costs without compromising quality.

Engineering plastics & specialty dyes: As a monomeric precursor, it contributes to the production of high-performance polymers and colorants for industrial use.

2. Commercial Grades

3,4-Dichlorobenzonitrile is available in two main commercial grades, each tailored to specific production needs. We focus exclusively on industrial-scale, commercially viable grades—no lab or reagent-grade products here.

Industrial Grade 3,4-DCBN

This is the workhorse grade for large-scale manufacturing, supplied in bulk quantities for agrochemicals, dyes, and engineering plastics. Purity is measured via gas chromatography (GC), the industry standard for this compound.

Typical purity: ≥97% (GC), with most commercial batches falling between 97–98%.

Primary uses: Herbicide/fungicide intermediates, engineering plastics, specialty dyes.

Pharmaceutical Grade 3,4-DCBN

For API synthesis and high-purity fine chemicals, pharmaceutical grade 3,4-DCBN meets stricter specifications—with tighter control over related substances and residual solvents.

Typical purity: ≥99.0% (GC/HPLC) – Dual testing methods ensure compliance with pharmaceutical standards.

Primary uses: Pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis, high-purity fine chemical production.

3. Industrial Synthesis Process

We use the industry-standard process for 3,4-Dichlorobenzonitrile: vapor-phase ammoxidation of 3,4-dichlorotoluene. This method is preferred for its cost-effectiveness and high throughput—key for meeting your bulk order demands consistently.

Here’s a simplified breakdown:

3,4-dichlorotoluene is mixed with measured air and ammonia, preheated, then fed into a fluidized bed reactor (operated at ~395°C) with a vanadium-based catalyst. The product stream is cooled, separated, and purified via vacuum distillation to reach commercial purity levels. Exhaust gas is scrubbed and monitored online to ensure compliance with environmental standards.

This process outperforms alternative methods (starting from 3,4-dichlorobenzaldehyde or 3,4-dichlorobenzamide) for large-scale production—meaning we can deliver consistent, cost-effective 3,4-DCBN for your bulk orders.

4. Quality Control

For buyers, consistent quality is non-negotiable. Our routine QC checks cover the key parameters below, with GC as the primary assay method (and capillary melting point testing as a secondary verification).

5. Packaging & Storage

We design our packaging and storage guidelines to protect your 3,4-DCBN and keep your operations safe—no unnecessary jargon, just clear, actionable info.

Packaging: Standard packaging is 25 kg fiber drums or paper drums—perfect for bulk shipping. We also offer custom packaging options to match your specific needs.

Storage: Keep sealed in a dry, cool, well-ventilated warehouse. Avoid heat sources, strong oxidizing agents, and strong bases—this ensures stability and extends shelf life.

6. Our Supply & Support

As a supplier focused on industrial and pharmaceutical buyers, we prioritize what matters most to your operations: consistent quality, reliable delivery, and responsive support.

Consistent quality: We test every batch via GC/HPLC (matching grade requirements) to ensure related substances and residual solvents are tightly controlled—no surprises.

Stable bulk capacity: We have years of experience exporting 3,4-DCBN to agrochemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide, with short lead times for standard orders.

Regulatory documentation: Every shipment includes a Certificate of Analysis (COA), Safety Data Sheet (SDS), and technical data sheets—so you have everything you need for customs and compliance.

Custom specifications: Need adjusted purity limits, impurity profiles, residual solvent levels, or packaging? We can tailor our 3,4-DCBN to match your exact synthesis requirements.

Contact Us

Contact SNOWHITE CHEMICAL CO.,LTD now to get COA, free samples and the latest quotation.

Email: shirley@snowhitechem.com

Phone: +86-25-56215758

WhatsApp：+86-13776524331