Chloroform (CAS 67-66-3)

Chloroform, with the chemical formula CHCl3, is a trichloromethane derivative, a dense, colorless, volatile liquid known for its distinctive sweet smell. Historically significant as an anesthetic, chloroform′s use today is predominantly in industrial and research settings due to its potency and risks associated with exposure. In scientific research, chloroform serves primarily as a solvent due to its ability to dissolve many organic compounds that are otherwise insoluble in water, making it invaluable in the extraction and purification of biochemicals like alkaloids, fats, oils, and some resins. Its non-polar nature allows it to participate in phase separation techniques, particularly in liquid-liquid extraction processes. When mixed with water, chloroform undergoes phase separation, enabling the selective dissolution of compounds based on their solubility in the chloroform phase versus the aqueous phase. This characteristic is extensively utilized in the purification of large biomolecules and in the preparation of samples for analysis in fields such as environmental science, where it is used to extract pollutants from water samples before analysis. Additionally, in organic synthesis, chloroform acts as a source of the dichlorocarbene (:CCl2) group when treated with strong base. This reactive intermediate is employed in the synthesis of various organic compounds through reactions such as the formation of dichlorocyclopropanes from alkenes, illustrating its pivotal role in facilitating complex chemical transformations.