Structure of alphaChloro Acetic Acid

Carboxylic acids with enolizable hydrogen atoms can be halogenated (several times). We show the product of chlorination of acetic acid. Halogenations of carboxylic acids are most frequently performed via the Hell-Volhard-Zelinski reaction. The HVZ reaction is a bromination.


Figure. The MP2(full)/6-31G* optimized structure of alphachloro acetic acid.