Cyclopropane Derivatives. I. Studies of the Photochemical and Thermal Chlorination of Cyclopropane

Gustavson has reported that the photochemical chlorination of cyclopropane gave 1, 1-dichlorocyclopropane and high-boiling compounds resulting from ring-opening reactions as the principal products. Small quantities of cyclopropyl chloride were isolated but the yields were unsatisfactory and attempts were made to prepare the monohalide by other methods. In beginning an investigation of the chemistry of cyclopropyl halides, we have studied the photochemical and thermal chlorination of cyclopropane in flow systems using conditions which were hoped to give useful yields of cyclopropyl chloride.