Isopropyl chloroformate

Isopropyl chloroformate (CAS 108-23-6), also known as IPCF, isopropyl chlorocarbonate, and 1-methylethyl chloroformate, is a reactive acylating agent belonging to the chloroformate ester family. It carries no assigned E-code and is classified under HS code 29159000 as a pharmaceutical intermediate.

In pharmaceutical synthesis, IPCF activates carboxylic acids to form mixed anhydrides, enabling efficient peptide bond formation and the introduction of isopropoxycarbonyl protecting groups on amines and alcohols. It also functions as a catalyst and biocide in select formulations, where its electrophilic carbonyl reacts with nucleophilic sites in microbial cell structures to disrupt biological activity.

Isopropyl chloroformate is supplied as a neat liquid in stabilised form, available in laboratory and bulk quantities under REACH-compliant documentation. Procurement teams should request a full SDS and CoA confirming purity specifications, as no Ph.Eur. or FCC monograph currently governs this substance. Storage and transport require classification as a corrosive, moisture-sensitive material.