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291056

Sigma-Aldrich

Methyl formate

anhydrous, 99%

Synonym(s):

Formic acid methyl ester

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About This Item

Linear Formula:
HCO2CH3
CAS Number:
Molecular Weight:
60.05
Beilstein:
1734623
EC Number:
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
12352108
PubChem Substance ID:
NACRES:
NA.21

grade

anhydrous

Quality Level

vapor density

2.1 (vs air)

vapor pressure

32.91 psi ( 55 °C)
9.47 psi ( 20 °C)

Assay

99%

form

liquid

autoignition temp.

842 °F

expl. lim.

23 %

impurities

<0.005% water

evapn. residue

<0.0005%

refractive index

n20/D 1.343 (lit.)

pH

4-5 (20 °C, 200 g/L)

bp

32-34 °C (lit.)

mp

−100 °C (lit.)

density

0.974 g/mL at 20 °C (lit.)

SMILES string

[H]C(=O)OC

InChI

1S/C2H4O2/c1-4-2-3/h2H,1H3

InChI key

TZIHFWKZFHZASV-UHFFFAOYSA-N

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Application

Methyl formate may be used in the synthesis of the following building blocks:
  • methyl 4-chloro-2-formylbutanoate from methyl 4-chlorobutanoate via -formylation
  • potassium methyl α-[(methoxyethylidene)amino]-β-hydroxyacrylate from methyl α-[(methoxyethylidene)amino]acetate
  • (S)-(-)-1-formyl-2-hydroxymethylpyrrolidine from (S)-(+)-2-hydroxymethylpyrrolidine via N-formylation

Signal Word

Danger

Hazard Classifications

Acute Tox. 3 Dermal - Acute Tox. 3 Inhalation - Acute Tox. 3 Oral - Eye Irrit. 2 - Flam. Liq. 1 - STOT SE 1 - STOT SE 3

Target Organs

Respiratory system

Storage Class Code

3 - Flammable liquids

WGK

WGK 2

Flash Point(F)

-2.2 °F - closed cup

Flash Point(C)

-19 °C - closed cup

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

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4-Methoxycarbonyl-2-methyl-1,3-oxazole
White JD, et al
Organic Syntheses, 79, 244-244 (2002)
(S)-(-)-1-Amino-2-Methoxymethylpyrrolidine (SAMP) and (R)-(+)-1-Amino-2-Methoxymethylpyrrolidine (RAMP), Versatile Chiral Auxiliaries
Enders D, et al.
Organic Syntheses, 65, 173-173 (1987)
Barriers to rotation adjacent to double bonds. 3. The carbon-oxygen barrier in formic acid, methyl formate, acetic acid, and methyl acetate. The origin of ester and amide resonance.
Wiberg KB and Laidig KE.
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 109(20), 5935-5943 (1987)
Methyl formate as a carbonylating agent for the catalytic conversion of phenol to methyl phenyl carbonate.
Wu C, et al.
Green Chemistry, 17(3), 1467-1472 (2015)
Methyl N-Phenyl Carbamate Synthesis from Aniline and Methyl Formate: Carbon Recycling to Chemical Products.
Yalfani MS, et al.
ChemSusChem, 8(3), 443-447 (2015)

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