Picryl chloride is an organic compound with the formula ClC6H2(NO2)3.

It is a bright yellow solid that is highly explosive, as is typical for polynitro aromatics such as picric acid.

The reactivity of picryl chloride is strongly influenced by the presence of three electron-withdrawing nitro groups.

Consequently picryl chloride is an electrophile as illustrated by its reactivity toward sulfite to give the sulfonate:[2] Picryl chloride is also a strong electron acceptor.

It forms a 1:1 charge-transfer complex with hexamethylbenzene.