Reaction of phenoxide with chloroacetone gives phenoxyacetone,[7] which is used to make a wide variety of different pharmaceuticals. A catalytic amount of potassium iodide is also necessary to facilitate a Finkelstein reaction.
Purification
Chloroacetone purchased from commercial suppliers contains 5% impurities including mesityl oxide, which is not removed by distillation. Mesityl oxide can be oxidized using acidified KMnO4 to form a diol (followed by separation with ether), which is removed on subsequent distillation.[8]
Transportation regulations
Transportation of unstabilized chloroacetone has been banned in the United States by the US Department of Transportation. Stabilized chloroacetone is in hazard class 6.1 (Poison Inhalation Hazard). Its UN number is 1695.
^Hurd, Charles D.; Perletz, Percy (1946). "Aryloxyacetones1". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 68 (1): 38–40. doi:10.1021/ja01205a012. ISSN0002-7863.