Methyl formate

Methyl formate
Structural formula of methyl formate
Structural formula of methyl formate
Ball-and-stick model of the methyl formate molecule
Ball-and-stick model of the methyl formate molecule
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Methyl formate
Systematic IUPAC name
Methyl methanoate
Other names
R-611
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.003.166 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 209-282-1
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C2H4O2/c1-4-2-3/h2H,1H3 checkY
    Key: TZIHFWKZFHZASV-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C2H4O2/c1-4-2-3/h2H,1H3
    Key: TZIHFWKZFHZASV-UHFFFAOYAI
  • O=COC
Properties
C2H4O2
Molar mass 60.052 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless liquid
Odor pleasant[1]
Density 0.98 g/cm3
Melting point −100 °C (−148 °F; 173 K)
Boiling point 32 °C (90 °F; 305 K)
30% (20°C)[1]
Vapor pressure 634 hPa (476 mmHg) (20°C)[1]
-32.0·10−6 cm3/mol
Hazards
GHS labelling:[3]
GHS02: FlammableGHS07: Exclamation mark
Danger
H224, H302, H319, H332, H335
P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P261, P264, P270, P271, P280, P301+P312, P303+P361+P353, P304+P312, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P330, P337+P313, P370+P378, P403+P233, P403+P235, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformFlammability 4: Will rapidly or completely vaporize at normal atmospheric pressure and temperature, or is readily dispersed in air and will burn readily. Flash point below 23 °C (73 °F). E.g. propaneInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
2
4
0
Flash point −19 °C; −2 °F; 254 K[1]
Explosive limits 4.5%-23%[1]
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
1622 mg/kg (oral, rabbit)[2]
50,000 ppm (guinea pig, 20 min)[2]
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
 TWA 100 ppm (250 mg/m3)[1]
REL (Recommended)
 TWA 100 ppm (250 mg/m3) ST 150 ppm (375 mg/m3)[1]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
 4500 ppm[1]
Safety data sheet (SDS) Oxford MSDS
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Methyl formate, also called methyl methanoate, is the methyl ester of formic acid. The simplest example of a carboxylate ester, it is a colorless liquid with an ethereal odour, high vapor pressure, and low surface tension. It is a precursor to many other compounds of commercial interest.[4]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0417". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  2. ^ a b "Methyl formate". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  3. ^ "Methyl formate". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  4. ^ Werner Reutemann and Heinz Kieczka "Formic Acid" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2002, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.a12_013