Like related acyl chlorides, valeryl chloride hydrolyzes readily:
:CH(CH)C(O)Cl  +  HO  →  CH(CH)COH  +  HCl
Alcohols react to give esters:
:CH(CH)C(O)Cl  +  ROH  →  CH(CH)COR  +  HCl
Amines react to give amides:
:CH(CH)C(O)Cl  +  RNH  →  CH(CH)C(O)NR  +  HCl
Benzene reacts under conditions of the Friedel-Crafts reaction to give valerophenone:
:CH(CH)C(O)Cl  +  CH  →  CH(CH)C(O)CH  +  HCl