Thionyl chloride in the context of Halogenation

Sulfuryl chloride is an inorganic compound with the formula SO₂Cl₂. At room temperature, it is a colorless liquid with a pungent odor. Sulfuryl chloride is not found in nature.

Sulfuryl chloride is commonly confused with thionyl chloride, SOCl₂. The properties of these two sulfur oxychlorides are quite different: sulfuryl chloride is a source of chlorine whereas thionyl chloride is a source of chloride ions. An alternative IUPAC name is sulfuryl dichloride.

In chemistry, halogenation is a chemical reaction which introduces one or more halogens into a chemical compound. Halide-containing compounds are pervasive, making this type of transformation important, e.g. in the production of polymers, drugs. This kind of conversion is in fact so common that a comprehensive overview is challenging. This article mainly deals with halogenation using elemental halogens (F₂, Cl₂, Br₂, I₂). Halides are also commonly introduced using halide salts and hydrogen halide acids. Many specialized reagents exist for introducing halogens into diverse substrates, e.g. thionyl chloride.