3241. Dimethyl Carbonate

Nomenclature

CAS number: 616-38-6
Carbonic acid dimethyl ester; methyl carbonate.
C3H6O3; mol wt 90.08.
C 40.00%, H 6.71%, O 53.28%.

Description and references

Prepn: B. R"ose, Ann. 205, 227 (1880); V. Grignard et al., Ann. Chim. (Paris) 9, 229 (1920). Review of mfr and characteristics as a fuel additive: M. A. Pacheco, C. L. Marshall, Energy Fuels 11, 2-29 (1997); of synthesis and chemical reactions: Y. Ono, Appl. Catal. A 155, 133-166 (1997); of production and eco-friendly applications: D. Delledonne et al., ibid. 221, 241-251 (2001); and chemistry: P. Tundo, M. Selva, Acc. Chem. Res. 35, 706-716 (2002).

Chemical structure

Properties

Liquid. Flammable. d420 1.07. mp 4.6°. bp 90.3°. Viscosity (20°): 0.625 cP. Flash pt, open cup: 71.1°F (21.7°C). Heat of vaporization: 88.2 kcal/kg. Soly in H2O: 13.9 g/100g. Miscible with alc, ethers, esters, ketones. Dielectric constant at 25°: 3.087. Dipole moment: 0.91. LD50 in rats (g/kg): 13.8 orally; 2.5 dermally. LC50 (4 hr) in rats (mg/l): 140 by inhalation (Ono).

Use

Environmentally benign substitute for dimethyl sulfate, q.v., and methyl halides in methylation reactions and for phosgene, q.v., in methylcarbonylation reactions.