Methoxymethanol
Chemical compound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Methoxymethanol is a chemical compound which is both an ether and an alcohol, a hemiformal.[1] The structural formula can be written as CH3OCH2OH. It has been discovered in space.[2]
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name
Methoxymethanol | |
| Other names
Formaldehyde methyl hemiacetal | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| 1900186 | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.022.476 |
| EC Number |
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PubChem CID |
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| C2H6O2 | |
| Molar mass | 62.068 g·mol−1 |
| Density | 0.948 |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling: | |
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| Warning | |
| H226, H302, H371 | |
| P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P260, P264, P270, P280, P301+P312, P303+P361+P353, P309+P311, P330, P370+P378, P403+P235, P405, P501 | |
| Flash point | 39.9 °C (103.8 °F; 313.0 K) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Formation
Methoxymethanol forms spontaneously when a water solution of formaldehyde and methanol are mixed.[3][1] or when formaldehyde is bubbled through methanol.[4]
In space methoxymethanol can form when methanol radicals (CH2OH or CH3O) react. These are radiolysis products derived when ultraviolet light or cosmic rays hit frozen methanol.[3]
Methanol can react with carbon dioxide and hydrogen at 80°C and some pressure with a ruthenium or cobalt catalyst, to yield some methoxymethanol.[5]
Properties
Different conformations of the molecule are Gauche-gauce (Gg), Gauche-gauce' (Gg'), and Trans-gauche (Tg).[6]