Acetyl chloride–ethanol brings about a remarkably efficient conversion of allyl acetates into allyl chlorides

AcCl–EtOH transforms primary and secondary allyl acetates into allyl chlorides that retain the olefinic bond in the more stable position. Whereas secondary allyl alcohols also react with almost the same efficacy as the acetates, the reactions of primary allyl alcohols that possess 1,2-disubstituted alkenes are very slow. The products are isolated in high state of purity simply by removal of the volatiles.