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Gaylord Chemical's
Comparative Reaction Solvent Research
investigates the Halex Reaction
The
Comparative Reaction Solvent Research
at Gaylord Chemical Company,
L.L.C. systematically compares DMSO performance versus other common sol-
vents in commercially important reactions. Using established references from the
chemical literature, our scientists test reaction systems to ascertain the yield, selec-
tivity, and reaction rates of DMSO versus other solvents.

The
Halex reaction
is one such reaction. This is the nucleophilic aromatic substitu-
tion of one halogen atom for another. Halex chemistry is one of the preferred meth-
ods for the synthesis of aromatic fluorides:
We have investigated the yields obtained using DMSO for a array of industrially per-
tinent aromatic halides, to produce fluoroaromatics. Below is an example wherein
DMSO use provides the highest yields:
Cl
F
NO
2
NO
2
Cl
NO
2
NO
2
F
NO
2
NO
2
F
-
Cl
-
Yield of 4-Fluoronitrobenzene: Halex reaction
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
DMSO
Sulfolane
DMF
Solvent tested
%

y
i
e
l
d
prod
uc
t
80
35.7
17
NO
2
Cl
NO
2
F
KF
solvent
Gaylord Chemical Company,
L.L.C. (GCC) is the world's
leading provider of Dimethyl
Sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions.
Beginning in the early
1960's ,GCC has been dedi-
cated to the development of
new uses for DMSO. In or-
der to meet customer-specific
needs, GCC has pioneered
the development of multiple
grades of DMSO, including
DMSO USP.

Gaylord Chemical's solutions
-based approach has contrib-
uted to the development and
growth of industries including
pharmaceuticals, hydro-
carbons, electronics, poly-
mers, coatings, agricultural
chemicals, and industrial
cleaners.

Gaylord Chemical's head-
quarters are located in Slidell,
Louisiana with manufactur-
ing, research, and develop-
ment facilities in nearby
Bogalusa, Louisiana. GCC
remains the only producer of
DMSO in the Western Hemi-
sphere.
DMSO PRODUCT INFORMATION BULLETIN
dimethyl sulfoxide
and the Halex Reaction
D M S O
Bulletin 151B
Oct 2007
Gaylord Chemical Company, L.L.C.
Your Global Leader For DMSO Solutions!
P.O. Box 1209
Slidell, LA 70459-1209 USA
1.800.426.6620 Office
1.985.649.0068 Fax
info@gaylordchemical.com