chloruration

Chloruration is a term used occasionally to describe the introduction of chlorine atoms into a substrate. It is not a widely standardized term, and its exact meaning varies by author. In many cases it is used as a synonym for chlorination, the broader process of incorporating chlorine into organic or inorganic compounds. Some writers reserve "chloruration" for particular chlorination steps within a synthetic sequence or for certain elective methods, making the usage context-dependent.

Chlorination reactions proceed by electrophilic, radical, or nucleophilic pathways, depending on the substrate and reagents. Common methods include electrophilic chlorination of alkenes with Cl2 or related reagents to form vicinal dichlorides; substitution of hydroxyl groups with chloride reagents such as thionyl chloride or phosphorus oxychloride; radical chlorination of C–H bonds using Cl2 or chlorine-derived radicals generated photochemically or thermally; and milder, selective chlorination using N-chlorosuccinimide for allylic or benzylic positions. Chlorination of arenes and heterocycles can occur under Lewis acid catalysis with Cl2 or related chlorinating agents.

Applications and considerations: Chlorination is widely used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and polymers, but chlorinated compounds raise health and environmental concerns due to toxicity and persistence. The term chloruration should be read in its contextual sense, with modern practice favoring the clearer term "chlorination."