Dimethoxymethane Information & Dimethoxymethane Links at HealthHaven.com

Dimethoxymethane
IUPAC name	Dimethoxymethane
Other names	Methylal; formal; formaldehyde dimethyl ether
Identifiers
CAS number	109-87-5
EC number	203-714-2
RTECS number	PA8750000
SMILES	COCOC
Properties
Molecular formula	C3H8O2
Molar mass	76.1 g/mol
Appearance	Colorless liquid
Density	0.860 g/mL
Melting point	-104.8 °C
Boiling point	42.3 °C
Hazards
EU classification	Flammable (F); Irritant (Xi)
R-phrases	R11 R36/37/38
S-phrases	S9, S16, S33
Flash point	-18 °C
Related compounds
Related Ethers	Dimethoxyethane
	(what is this?) (verify); Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
	Infobox references

Dimethoxymethane, also called methylal, is a clear colorless flammable liquid with a low boiling point, low viscosity and an excellent dissolving power. It has a chloroform-like odor and a pungent taste. It is the dimethyl acetal of formaldehyde. Dimethoxymethane is soluble in three parts water and miscible with most common organic solvents.

It can be manufactured by oxidation of methanol or by the reaction of formaldehyde with methanol. In aqueous acid, it is hydrolyzed back to formaldehyde and methanol.

It is primarily used as a solvent and in the manufacture of perfumes, resins, adhesives, paint strippers and protective coatings.

Due to the anomeric effect, dimethoxymethane has a preference toward the gauche conformation around the C–O bonds, instead of the anti conformation. Since it is one of the smallest molecules exhibiting this effect, which has great interest in carbohydrate chemistry, dimethoxymethane is often used for theoretical studies of the anomeric effect.

[edit] References

Merck Index, 11th Edition, 5936

[edit] External links