Chloroprene is a colorless, volatile liquid primarily used as a monomer in the production of polychloroprene, a synthetic rubber better known by its trade name neoprene. With the chemical formula C₄H₅Cl, chloroprene is highly flammable and has a pungent, ether-like odor. It was first developed in the 1930s by DuPont and has since become a cornerstone in the manufacture of durable, flexible, and weather-resistant rubber materials