Benzoyl chloride

Benzoyl chloride is the aromatic acyl chloride ${\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{C}(=\mathrm{O})\mathrm{Cl}$. Its acyl carbon is susceptible to attack by a nucleophile, followed by chloride departure.

Reaction with an alcohol can give a benzoate ester, while an appropriate amine can give a benzamide. The common acyl-substitution pattern connects these two classes of product.