Cobalt(II) chloride anhydrous (CoCl₂) can be used as a catalyst in organic synthesis for the transformation of the various functional groups. For example, synthesis of esters via cleavage of ethers by acyl chlorides; acylation of alcohols and amines by anhydrides; and regioselective cleavage of oxiranes. It is also used to synthesize mixed acetals by the addition reaction between alcohols and vinyl ethers.
CoCl₂ can be used as a catalyst:

• For the dealkylation of tertiary amines.
• In the synthesis of thioketones and thioaldehydes via thionation of carbonyl compounds in the presence of bis(trimethylsilyl) sulfide.
• In the oxidation of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes to carboxylic acids in the presence of molecular oxygen and acetic anhydride.
• In the stereoselective opening of epoxides with N-substituted anilines.

CoCl₂ can also be used as:

• A precursor to synthesize magnetic cobalt nanorods via decomposition of the cobalt coordination complex.
• A catalyst to prepare acid anhydrides by the reaction of acid chlorides with carboxylic acids.
• A reagent in the carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions involving active methylene compounds.

Assay (argentometric): ≥ 98.0 %
Water (K. F.): ≤ 2.0 %