Trimethyl orthoformate

• Trimethoxymethane
• Trimethyl orthoformate
• TMOF

Colorless liquid with a pungent odor

Liquid

0.97 g · cm -3

-53 ° C

104 ° C.

10 mbar ( 7 ° C)

• Soluble under hydrolysis in water (10 g · l-1 at 20 ° C)
• Soluble in ethanol and ether

1.379 (20 ° C)

Risk

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Trimethyl orthoformate is a chemical compound selected from the group of the orthophosphoric esters. It is an ester of orthoformic acid hypothetical HC (OH ) 3

Production and representation

Trimethyl orthoformate, may be obtained by the reaction of chloroform with sodium methylate.

Properties

Trimethyl orthoformate is a flammable, volatile, colorless liquid with a pungent odor. In water, hydrolysis takes place. Boiling point 103-105 ° C, specific gravity of 0.97 (at 20 ° C), flash point 13-15 ° C, soluble in ether, alcohol and benzene.

Use

Trimethyl orthoformate, may be used as an intermediate in the preparation of other chemical compounds (for example, acetals, or compounds such as benzimidazole, Vitamin B1).

Safety

Vapors may form trimethyl orthoformate (13 ° C, ignition temperature 255 ° C flash point) with air to form an explosive mixture.

Related compounds

• Triethyl orthoformate
• Trimethylorthoacetate
• Dimethoxyethane (simplest acetal )
• Tetramethoxymethan ( simple ortho carbonate esters )