2-Bromo-4-chlorobenzoic acid (C₇H₄BrClO₂, CAS: 936-08-3) is a dihalogenated benzoic acid derivative with a molecular weight of 235.46 g/mol. It appears as a white to light-yellow crystalline solid with a melting point of approximately 157-161°C. The compound is soluble in organic solvents (alcohols, ethers) and slightly soluble in water, while demonstrating good reactivity under both acidic and alkaline conditions for esterification, amidation, and cross-coupling reactions.
The unique substitution pattern — a bromine atom at the ortho position (2‑) and a chlorine atom at the para position (4‑) relative to the carboxylic acid group — provides a platform with high chemical reactivity and bond selectivity. This characteristic makes it an essential and versatile intermediate for constructing complex organic molecules in pharmaceutical, agrochemical and advanced material applications. Additionally, its antimicrobial activity and use as a preservative and fixative broaden its reach into industrial and consumer goods sectors.
Core Application Fields and Market Demand
Market demand for 2-bromo-4-chlorobenzoic acid is concentrated in four sectors: pharmaceutical API manufacturing (≈45-50%), agrochemical synthesis (≈30-35%), advanced material production (≈10-15%), and industrial specialties (≈5-10%). The compound’s role as a key intermediate in synthesising bioactive molecules, antimicrobial agents and heterocyclic APIs accounts for the majority of growth in the pharmaceutical segment.
1. Pharmaceutical Synthesis (≈45-50% of total consumption). 2-Bromo-4-chlorobenzoic acid serves as a key intermediate in the preparation of several high-value drug candidates and approved APIs, especially anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents.
- Dapagliflozin impurity standard / reference material: The compound is listed as a reference standard in the production of the blockbuster SGLT2 inhibitor Dapagliflozin, used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Its defined structure and high purity allow its use in analytical method development, validation (AMV), and quality control (QC) for Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs).
- Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory APIs: The bromine substituent at the ortho position, combined with the chlorine substituent at the para position, enhances reactivity toward nucleophilic substitution, which is exploited to introduce various bioactive side chains. Patent literature describes routes where this acid undergoes amidation and esterification to yield compounds with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values as low as 32 µg/mL against S. aureus and 64 µg/mL against E. coli, supporting its potential in treating bacterial infections.
- Anti-fungal and preservative uses: 2-Bromo-4-chlorobenzoic acid also demonstrates antifungal properties and is used as a preservative and fixative in personal care and food-related formulations.
2. Agrochemical Synthesis (≈30-35% of total consumption). The rigid, halogen-substituted aromatic framework provides an ideal core for designing bioactive molecules that interfere with fungal and weed enzyme systems.
- Fungicide precursors: In agricultural research, this compound has demonstrated fungicidal properties. Its specific halogenation pattern contributes to membrane disruption in plant pathogens, offering a scaffold for next-generation crop protection agents.
- Herbicide intermediates: The compound is used as a building block for synthesising a wide variety of herbicides and pesticides that require a stable, electron-deficient aromatic core with two orthogonal leaving groups. Its halogen atoms can be displaced by nucleophiles to produce targeted agrochemical actives.
3. Advanced Materials & Organic Electronics (≈10-15% of total consumption). 2-Bromo-4-chlorobenzoic acid and its derivatives are used in the preparation of:
- OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) materials: The rigid aromatic core serves as a platform for highly conjugated systems used as charge-transport layers and emissive dopants. Similar halogenated benzoic acids (e.g., 4-bromo-2-chlorobenzoic acid) are used to prepare organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).
- High-performance polymers: The compound functions as a monomer or chain modifier in synthesising polyamides, polyimides, and other engineering plastics that benefit from the introduction of heavy halogen atoms to increase thermal stability, flame retardancy, and chemical resistance.
- Optoelectronic sensors: Its well-defined conjugation and specific substitution pattern make it useful as a precursor for constructing functionalised π‑conjugated systems needed in sensor technologies.
4. Industrial Specialties (≈5-10% of total consumption).
- Dye and pigment intermediate: 2-Bromo-4-chlorobenzoic acid can be used as a dye dispersant in the dye industry, improving colour uniformity and stability in textile applications.
- Food preservative and flavour fixative: The compound is also used as a preservative, fixative, and flavour enhancer in certain food products, including fruit juice flavour preservatives, chocolate, lemon, berry, nut, and candied fruit flavour formulations.
Major Market Participants
The global supply system for 2-bromo-4-chlorobenzoic acid follows a pattern of “specialised fine chemical and pharmaceutical intermediate manufacturers, with production and R&D supply concentrated in China, India, Europe, Japan, and the United States.”
Several major manufacturers and distributors offer the compound under various catalog numbers and purity grades, including Sigma-Aldrich (97% purity), Thermo Fisher Scientific (Alfa Aesar), TCI (Tokyo Chemical Industry), BOC Sciences, Capot Chemical, BenchChem, and MolCore. The compound is generally supplied as a white to light‑yellow crystalline powder with purity ranging from 97% to ≥98‑99% (GC/HPLC).
Shanghai XinChem Co., Ltd. (XinChem) has established a reliable, quality‑controlled supply chain for high‑purity 2-bromo-4-chlorobenzoic acid (CAS 936-08-3). Our product meets rigorous industrial specifications — purity ≥98-99% (GC/HPLC), white to off‑white crystalline powder, molecular weight 235.46 g/mol, melting point 157‑161 °C, MDL MFCD00672930, and moisture <0.5% (KF titration) — fully compliant with global pharmaceutical, agrochemical and advanced material manufacturing standards.
Regional Market Dynamics
Global demand for 2-bromo-4-chlorobenzoic acid shows a distinct regional pattern: Asia-Pacific is the largest and fastest‑growing region for production and intermediate supply, North America and Europe lead in high‑purity R&D and specialty applications, and Latin America & Middle East/Africa follow as emerging growth markets.
Asia-Pacific, and China in particular, has emerged as the dominant manufacturing hub for halogenated benzoic acid intermediates. Chinese manufacturers have optimised large-scale bromination processes (using Br₂ in the presence of Fe or AlCl₃, with conversion yields exceeding 98%) and can produce high‑purity material at highly competitive prices, with capacities scaling from research grams to multi‑metric‑ton industrial campaigns. India‘s rapidly expanding generic agrochemical and pharmaceutical API sector also drives significant volume demand.
North America and Europe command the largest share of high‑purity R&D and commercial consumption (≥99%), driven by the highest concentration of drug discovery programmes for diabetes, inflammation, and bacterial infection, agrochemical innovation, and advanced OLED research. Customer requirements in these regions are stringent: purity ≥99%, full traceability, ICH Q3D compliance for heavy metals, full impurity profiling (including residual solvents by GC‑headspace, related substances by HPLC‑UV), and cGMP documentation for pharmaceutical use. Japan and the Republic of Korea demand ultra‑high‑purity grades for advanced OLED fabrication and high‑performance polymer synthesis.
Storage, Stability, and Regulatory Considerations
2-Bromo-4-chlorobenzoic acid (CAS 936-08-3) should be stored at room temperature in a tightly sealed, dry, light‑protected container, kept away from strong oxidising agents and strong bases. The compound is stable for up to three years when stored as a powder at –20 °C and for up to two years at 2‑8 °C. Solutions in DMSO are stable for up to one year at –80 °C.
In the European Union, 2-bromo-4-chlorobenzoic acid is subject to REACH regulations; importers and manufacturers must provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS). It is classified with acute oral toxicity Category 3 (H301 – Toxic if swallowed), skin irritation Category 2 (H315), eye irritation Category 2A (H319), and specific target organ toxicity following single exposure Category 3 (H335). The compound is classified as Aquatic Acute 1 (H400 – Very toxic to aquatic life), with hazard codes R36/37/38 (irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin) and UN 2928, packing group III (toxic solid).
In the United States, it is regulated under TSCA as a research chemical; for use in pharmaceutical API synthesis, adherence to cGMP guidelines (21 CFR Parts 210/211) is required. In China, the compound is listed in the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (IECSC), with customs HS Code 29163990 (unsaturated aromatic monocarboxylic acids) and requires safety production licences for manufacturing facilities.
Future Outlook
The market outlook for 2-bromo-4-chlorobenzoic acid is tied to four core drivers: (1) the sustained global demand for anti‑inflammatory and antimicrobial APIs, as well as the continued growth of the diabetes drug market (which relies on intermediates such as this compound for Dapagliflozin impurity standards); (2) the expanding adoption of halogenated benzoic acid scaffolds in next‑generation agrochemical formulations that require high selectivity and low environmental persistence; (3) the rapid growth of Asian CRO/CDMO sectors supplying intermediates to global pharmaceutical and agrochemical companies; and (4) the increasing adoption of this compound in advanced OLED fabrication and high‑performance polymer industries.
Shanghai XinChem Co., Ltd. (XinChem)
As a world‑leading supplier of pharmaceutical intermediates, halogenated aromatic building blocks, and specialty chemicals, Shanghai XinChem Co., Ltd. (XinChem) has always focused on the innovative needs of the pharmaceutical API manufacturing, agrochemical R&D, and advanced material industries. Relying on core advantages in multi‑step halogenation, purification, and quality assurance, we provide high‑quality 2-Bromo-4-chlorobenzoic acid (CAS 936-08-3) to global customers.
1. Technical Advantages
- High Purity & Consistency: Our product achieves purity ≥98-99% (GC/HPLC), white to off‑white crystalline powder, molecular weight 235.46 g/mol, melting point 157‑161 °C, MDL MFCD00672930, and moisture <0.5% (KF titration).
- Low Impurity Profile: Strict control of residual solvents (<0.5% total), heavy metals (≤10 ppm, ICH Q3D compliant), and related substances by HPLC‑UV ensures high synthetic performance for pharmaceutical API, agrochemical, and advanced material manufacturing.
- Pharmaceutical‑Grade Quality: The compound is tested for full ICH Q3C (residual solvents), ICH Q3D (heavy metals), and USP residual solvents, providing full traceability to primary analytical standards.
- Batch‑to‑Batch Uniformity: Rigorous analytical testing (GC, HPLC, NMR, LC‑MS, heavy metals by ICP‑MS, residual solvents by GC‑headspace, Karl Fischer titration) guarantees consistent quality and reproducible yields across all production lots.
2. Product Advantages
- Versatile Halogenated Scaffold: Directly used as a key intermediate for anti‑inflammatory APIs, antimicrobial agents, Dapagliflozin reference standards, agrochemical fungicides/herbicides, and high‑performance polymer monomers.
- Orthogonal Reactivity: The carboxylic acid group, ortho‑bromine substituent, and para‑chlorine substituent enable orthogonal diversification strategies — esterification, amidation, nucleophilic substitution (SNAr), and transition metal‑catalysed cross‑couplings (Suzuki‑Miyaura, Buchwald‑Hartwig, Sonogashira) — under mild, independent conditions.
- Flexible Packaging Options: 1 g, 5 g, 10 g, 25 g, 50 g, 100 g, 500 g glass bottles (R&D); 1 kg HDPE containers (pilot); 5 kg, 10 kg, 25 kg, 50 kg, 100 kg fiber drums (industrial). Full custom packaging available for pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and advanced material campaigns.
- Reliable Supply Chain: Annual capacity in the multi‑metric‑ton range, with dedicated temperature‑controlled warehousing (room temperature, dry, light‑protected, sealed containers) and just‑in‑time delivery capabilities.
3. Application Fields
- Pharmaceutical Intermediates: Key building block for anti‑inflammatory APIs, antimicrobial agents, Dapagliflozin impurity standards (type 2 diabetes treatment), antifungal compounds, and heterocyclic drug candidates.
- Agrochemical Intermediates: Core building block for fungicides, herbicides, pesticides, and crop protection formulations requiring rigid, electron‑deficient aromatic cores with orthogonal leaving groups.
- Advanced Materials & Organic Electronics: Monomer/chain modifier for high‑performance polymers (polyamides, polyimides) with enhanced thermal stability and chemical resistance; precursor for OLED (organic light‑emitting diode) materials and optoelectronic sensor fabrication.
- Industrial Specialties: Dye dispersant for textile industry; preservative, fixative, and flavour enhancer for food and beverage applications.
- Analytical Reference Standards: Certified reference material for Dapagliflozin impurity profiling, method validation (AMV), and quality control (QC) in ANDA submissions.
4. Service Support
Our technical team provides full impurity profiling (GC purity, HPLC‑UV related substances, residual solvents by GC‑headspace, heavy metals by ICP‑MS, LC‑MS identity confirmation), custom purification to any desired specification, and complete regulatory documentation (Certificate of Analysis, Technical Data Sheet, Safety Data Sheet, REACH compliance, TSCA certification, DMF support for pharmaceutical customers). We also offer custom synthesis of halogenated benzoic acid derivatives, cold‑chain logistics, and just‑in‑time delivery.
5. Why Choose XinChem
- Professionalism: 20 + years in the pharmaceutical intermediate, halogenated aromatic chemistry, and fine chemical industries.
- Flexibility: Tailored to customer purity specifications, packaging sizes, and regulatory documentation requirements.
- Cost‑effectiveness: High purity at competitive industrial pricing.
Contact us now to start cooperation!
Website: www.xinchem.com
Email: sales1@xinchem.com
WhatsApp: +86 18049800532
Post time: Jun-01-2026