Cyanuric chloride

[1] Cyanuric chloride is the main precursor to the popular but controversial herbicide atrazine.

[2] It is estimated that 70% of cyanuric chloride is used in the preparation of the triazine-class pesticides, especially atrazine.

Such reactions rely on the easy displacement of the chloride with nucleophiles such as amines: Other triazine herbicides, such as simazine, anilazine and cyromazine are made in an analogous way.

The largest class of these dyes are the sulfonated triazine-stilbene optical brighteners (OBA) or fluorescent whitening agents (FWA) commonly found in detergent formulas and white paper.

Heating with DMF gives "Gold's reagent" Me2NCH=NCH=NMe2+Cl−, which is a versatile source of aminoalkylations and a precursor to heterocycles.

Skeletal formula of cyanuric chloride
Ball-and-stick model of the cyanuric chloride molecule
NFPA 704 four-colored diamond Health 3: Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury. E.g. chlorine gas Flammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. water Instability 1: Normally stable, but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures. E.g. calcium Special hazard W: Reacts with water in an unusual or dangerous manner. E.g. sodium, sulfuric acid