Prepn by chlorinating alcohol, treating with H2SO4 and then distilling: Liebig, Ann. 1, 189 (1832); Personne, J. Pharm. Chim. [4] 10, 350 (1869); 11, 205 (1870); Brochet, Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. [3] 17, 228 (1897); Ann. Chim. [7] 10, 332 (1897); Trillat, Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. [3] 17, 230 (1897); Besson, DE 133021 (1902); Chem. Zentralbl. 1902, II, 553; Ohse, DE 734723 (1943), C.A. 38, 3671 (1944). Prepn by chlorination of a mixture of alcohol and acetaldehyde: Société d'Electrochimie, FR 612396; Chim. Ind. (Paris) 21, 567 (1929). Prepn from chloral hydrate by azeotropic distn: Mahoney, Pierson, US 2584036 (1952 to Merck & Co.). From hypochlorous acid and trichloroethylene: Stevens et al., US 2759978 (1956 to Columbia-Southern). In the laboratory anhydr chloral may be quickly obtained by shaking pharmaceutical grade chloral hydrate with concd H2SO4, separating the two layers, and distilling: cf. Gattermann, Wieland, Praxis des Organischen Chemikers (de Gruyter, Berlin, 40th ed., 1961) p 334. See also Chloral Hydrate.