5954. Methanesulfonic Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 75-75-2
Methylsulfonic acid.
CH4O3S; mol wt 96.11.
C 12.50%, H 4.19%, O 49.94%, S 33.36%.

Description and references

Prepd from sulfur trioxide and methane: Snyder, Grosse, US 2493038 (1950 to Houdry Process); by oxidation of dimethyl disulfide: Johnson, Wolff, US 2697722 (1954 to Standard Oil of Indiana); Proell et al., Ind. Eng. Chem. 40, 1129 (1948). Other prepns and chemistry: Suter, The Organic Chemistry of Sulfur (Wiley, New York, 1944).

Chemical structure

Properties

Solid. d418 1.4812. mp 20°. bp10 167°; bp1 122°. Soly at 26-28° in wt %: hexane, 0; methylcyclopentane, 0; benzene, 1.50; toluene, 0.38; o-chlorotoluene, 0.23; ethyl disulfide, 0.47. Thermally stable at moderately elevated temps. Not hydrolyzed by boiling water or hot aq alkali. Corrosive to iron, steel, brass, copper, lead.

Derivative

Ethyl ester see Ethyl Methanesulfonate.

Derivative

Methyl ester see Methyl Methanesulfonate.

Caution

Strong irritant.

Use

As catalyst in polymerization, alkylation and esterification reactions; as a solvent.