11Epichlorohydrin is an organochlorine compound and an epoxide. This a colorless liquid with a pungent, garlic-like odor is insoluble in water, but miscible with most polar organic solvents. Epichlorohydrin is a highly reactive compound and is used in the production of glycerol, plastics, and elastomers. Epicholorhydrin hydrolyzes to 3-MCPD in contact with water, a carcinogen found in food.
"Epi" is mainly converted to glycerol: CH2CHOCH2Cl + 2 H2O → HOCH2CH(OH)CH2(OH) + HCl It is also a building block in the manufacture of epoxy resins, for example by alkylation of bisphenol-A. It is a precursor to monomers for other resins and polymers.
