Methyl hypochlorite

Methyl hypochlorite
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Methyl hypochlorite
Other names
(Chlorooxy)methane; Hypochlorous acid methyl ester; Methoxy chloride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
  • InChI=1S/CH3ClO/c1-3-2/h1H3 checkY
    Key: UCFFGYASXIPWPD-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1S/CH3ClO/c1-3-2/h1H3
    Key: UCFFGYASXIPWPD-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • COCl
Properties
CH3ClO
Molar mass 66.48 g·mol−1
Appearance Gas
Odor Pungent
Density 1.058 g/cm3
Melting point −120.4 °C (−184.7 °F; 152.8 K)
Boiling point 9.18 °C (48.52 °F; 282.33 K)
Decomposes
1.343
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS01: ExplosiveGHS02: FlammableGHS05: CorrosiveGHS08: Health hazard
Danger
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 4: Very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury. E.g. VX gasFlammability (red): no hazard codeInstability 4: Readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition at normal temperatures and pressures. E.g. nitroglycerinSpecial hazards (white): no code
4
4
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Methyl hypochlorite is the simplest of the organic alkyl hypochlorites. It is an unstable compound that can be produced by the reaction of methanol with hypochlorous acid.[1] It was first synthesized by Traugott Sandmeyer in the 1880s.[2]

Methyl hypochlorite forms in the Earth's atmosphere by a reaction between ClO and CH3OO and is thought to be an important species in ozone destruction over the Arctic and Antarctic regions.[3]

  1. ^ Taylor, M. C.; MacMullin, R. B.; Gammal, C. A. (February 1925). "Hypochlorous Acid and the Alkyl Hypochlorite". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 47 (2): 395–403. doi:10.1021/ja01679a017.
  2. ^ Sandmeyer, Traugott (January 1886). "Ueber Aethyl- und Methylhypochlorit". Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft. 19 (1): 857–861. doi:10.1002/cber.188601901196.
  3. ^ Helleis, Frank; Crowley, John; Moortgat, Geert (15 August 1994). "Temperature dependent CH3OCl formation in the reaction between CH3O2 and ClO". Geophysical Research Letters. 21 (17): 1795–1798. Bibcode:1994GeoRL..21.1795H. doi:10.1029/94GL01280.