What is "halohydrin"

n. (context organic chemistry English) Any of a class of organic compound having a hydroxyl functional group and a halogen on neighbouring carbon atoms.

In organic chemistry a halohydrin (also a haloalcohol or β-halo alcohol) is a functional group in which a halogen and a hydroxyl are bonded to adjacent carbon atoms, which otherwise bear only hydrogen or hydrocarbyl groups (e.g. 2-chloroethanol, 3-chloropropane-1,2-diol). The term only applies to saturated motifs, as such compounds like 2-chlorophenol would not normally be considered halohydrins.

Halohydrins may be categorized as chlorohydrins, bromohydrins, flurohydrins or iodohydrins depending on the halogen present.