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305472

Sigma-Aldrich

Trimethyl orthoformate

anhydrous, 99.8%

Synonym(s):

TMOF, Trimethoxymethane

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About This Item

Linear Formula:
CH(OCH3)3
CAS Number:
Molecular Weight:
106.12
Beilstein:
969215
EC Number:
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
12352112
eCl@ss:
39021015
PubChem Substance ID:
NACRES:
NA.22

grade

anhydrous

Quality Level

vapor density

3.67 (vs air)

vapor pressure

23.5 mmHg ( 20 °C)
40 mmHg ( 30 °C)
57 mmHg ( 40 °C)

Assay

99.8%

form

liquid

expl. lim.

5.1 %

impurities

<0.002% water
<0.005% water (100 mL pkg)

evapn. residue

<0.0005%

refractive index

n20/D 1.379 (lit.)

bp

101-102 °C (lit.)

density

0.97 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)

SMILES string

COC(OC)OC

InChI

1S/C4H10O3/c1-5-4(6-2)7-3/h4H,1-3H3

InChI key

PYOKUURKVVELLB-UHFFFAOYSA-N

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General description

Trimethyl orthoformate is a commonly used reagent in organic synthesis for the preparation of useful building blocks. It is also used to introduce the protecting group for aldehydes by the preparation of acetals. Acetals can be deprotected back to the aldehyde by using acid catalysts.

Application

Trimethyl orthoformate can be used:
  • To convert sulfonic acids to methyl esters.
  • To convert 2-acylcyclohexanones to the corresponding acetal derivatives.
  • To mediate Pinacol reaction of various 1,2-diols with tin(IV) chloride without the formation of water.
  • To synthesize 1-substituted-1H-1,2,3,4-tetrazoles via a three-component condensation with amine and sodium azide catalyzed by indium triflate under solvent-free conditions.
  • For the N-methylation of amines in the presence of sulfuric acid.

Pictograms

FlameExclamation mark

Signal Word

Danger

Hazard Statements

Hazard Classifications

Eye Irrit. 2 - Flam. Liq. 2 - STOT SE 3

Target Organs

Respiratory system

Storage Class Code

3 - Flammable liquids

WGK

WGK 1

Flash Point(F)

55.4 °F - closed cup

Flash Point(C)

13 °C - closed cup

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Search for Certificates of Analysis (COA) by entering the products Lot/Batch Number. Lot and Batch Numbers can be found on a product’s label following the words ‘Lot’ or ‘Batch’.

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A convenient one pot procedure for N-methylation of aromatic amines using trimethyl orthoformate
Padmanabhan, Seetharamaiyer and Reddy, N Laxma and Durant, Graham J
Synthetic Communications, 27(4), 691-699 (1997)
Alkyl Orthoformate: A Versatile Reagent in Organic Synthesis
Frizzo CP
Synlett, 2009(06), 1019-1020 (2009)
Regiochemistry of the Reaction of 2-Acylcyclohexanones with Trimethyl Orthoformate: A Convenient One-Pot Method to Obtain 7, 7-Dimethoxy Alkanoate Methyl Esters
Martins MAP, et al.
Synlett, 6(06), 789-791 (1999)
Synthesis of 2?, 3?-dideoxyuridine
FU Y, et al.
Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, (4), 13-13 (2013)
Efficient pinacol rearrangement mediated by trimethyl orthoformate
Kita Y, et al.
Tetrahedron Letters, 38(48), 8315-8318 (1997)

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