Dimethoxymethane

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    109-87-5

    Molecular formula
    C3H8O2

    SMILES
    COCOC

    Safety labels

    Flammable
    Flammable

    Irritant
    Irritant

  • Odor profile

    Fragrance
    Ethereal 90.05%
    Fruity 70.03%
    Alcoholic 53.31%
    Rummy 48.58%
    Sweet 42.61%
    Fresh 40.85%
    Fermented 38.0%
    Cognac 36.91%
    Winey 35.81%
    Brandy 34.4%

     

    Flavor
    Sweet 69.87%
    Green 59.4%
    Ether 50.54%
    Alcohol 43.68%
    Alcoholic 43.16%
    Ethereal 39.94%
    Bitter 38.17%
    Earthy 35.51%
    Sharp 33.37%
    Fruit 31.89%

     

    Odor impact est.
    High

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    0.2

    pKa est.
    6.35 (neutral)

    Molecular weight
    76.09 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Ultra fast

    Melting point expt.

    • -157 °F (USCG, 1999)
    • -105 °C
    • -157 °F

    Boiling point

    • 108 °F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999)
    • 41.6 °C @ 760 MM HG
    • 42 °C
    • 111 °F

    Flash point

    • -17.59 ˚C est.
    • 0 °F (USCG, 1999)
    • -32 °C
    • -26 °F (-32 °C) (OPEN CUP)
    • -31 °C c.c.
    • -26 °F (open cup)
    • (oc) -26 °F

    Solubility expt.

    • 33 % (NIOSH, 2024)
    • MISCIBLE WITH ALCOHOL, ETHER, OILS; SOL IN 3 PARTS WATER
    • SOL IN ALL ACETONE, AND BENZENE
    • Water solubility: 330,000 mg/l
    • Solubility in water, g/100ml at 20 °C: 28.5 (good)
    • 33%

  • Synonyms

    • Dimethoxymethane
    • 109-87-5
    • METHYLAL
    • Formal
    • Methane, dimethoxy-
    • Formaldehyde dimethyl acetal
    • Dimethyl formal
    • Anesthenyl
    • 2,4-Dioxapentane
    • Methylene dimethyl ether
    • Bis(methoxy)methane
    • Methoxymethyl methyl ether
    • bis(methyloxy)methane
    • Metylal
    • Formaldehyde methyl ketal
    • Formaldehyde dimethylacetal
    • Methylene glycol dimethylether
    • HSDB 1820
    • Dimethoxy-Methane
    • UNII-7H1M4G2NUE
    • EINECS 203-714-2
    • UN1234
    • CCRIS 9397
    • Methylenedioxydimethane
    • CHEBI:48341
    • AI3-16096
    • METHYLAL [HSDB]
    • METHYLAL [MI]
    • Dimethylacetal formaldehyde
    • METHYLAL [WHO-DD]
    • 7H1M4G2NUE
    • (CH3O)2CH2
    • DTXSID1025564
    • EC 203-714-2
    • MFCD00008495
    • UN 1234
    • Dimethoxy methane
    • Metylal [Polish]
    • Dimethylformal
    • Dioxapentane
    • Methylene Glycol Dimethyl Ether
    • 2,4Dioxapentane
    • methane, dimethoxy
    • Methylene dimethylether
    • METHYLAL [INCI]
    • Dimethoxymethane 99.5%
    • Methylal (ACGIH:OSHA)
    • CHEMBL15537
    • DTXCID905564
    • Dimethoxymethane (ACGIH:OSHA)
    • FORMALDEHYDE DIMETHYLACETOL
    • AKOS000120977
    • FD34669
    • Dimethoxymethane, ReagentPlus(R), 99%
    • Methylal [UN1234] [Flammable liquid]
    • D0637
    • NS00003248
    • Formaldehyde dimethyl acetal, analytical standard
    • Q411496
    • METHYLAL (DIMETHOXY-METHANE) (DIMETHOXYMETHANE)
    • F0001-0207
    • Formaldehyde dimethyl acetal, absolute, over molecular sieve (H2O <=0.01%), >=99.0% (GC)

  • Applications

    Dimethoxymethane (CAS 109-87-5) is used primarily as a stable solvent and processing medium in coatings, inks, and adhesives; it also functions as a reactive intermediate in the production of resins and specialty polymers. In organic synthesis, it is commonly employed as an aldehyde protecting group (an acetal) for formaldehyde and related carbonyl compounds, allowing selective transformations, and under acidic conditions it can hydrolyze to formaldehyde and methanol, enabling controlled release in downstream processes. It is also used as a precursor for other acetals and formaldehyde derivatives in chemical manufacturing. Its role is formulation- and process-dependent, and handling is subject to local regulations and formulation limits.

    gpt-5-nano

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 3920.39
    methanol 5222.8
    isopropanol 2669.09
    water 372.52
    ethyl acetate 1044.89
    n-propanol 2431.69
    acetone 1496.09
    n-butanol 2026.11
    acetonitrile 2017.17
    DMF 1635.56
    toluene 263.59
    isobutanol 1401.89
    1,4-dioxane 1601.63
    methyl acetate 1200.74
    THF 1775.62
    2-butanone 958.15
    n-pentanol 799.38
    sec-butanol 1880.13
    n-hexane 173.01
    ethylene glycol 1535.08
    NMP 1112.05
    cyclohexane 369.27
    DMSO 1354.96
    n-butyl acetate 475.21
    n-octanol 260.52
    chloroform 3256.68
    n-propyl acetate 421.89
    acetic acid 7423.71
    dichloromethane 2630.02
    cyclohexanone 934.7
    propylene glycol 1317.88
    isopropyl acetate 438.95
    DMAc 1003.14
    2-ethoxyethanol 1471.23
    isopentanol 1013.43
    n-heptane 198.91
    ethyl formate 1011.63
    1,2-dichloroethane 1082.96
    n-hexanol 698.86
    2-methoxyethanol 3434.18
    isobutyl acetate 198.46
    tetrachloromethane 1165.81
    n-pentyl acetate 258.82
    transcutol 1148.51
    n-heptanol 317.84
    ethylbenzene 98.48
    MIBK 260.73
    2-propoxyethanol 1100.4
    tert-butanol 2220.75
    MTBE 888.65
    2-butoxyethanol 588.77
    propionic acid 2171.17
    o-xylene 162.38
    formic acid 4448.23
    diethyl ether 1321.37
    m-xylene 135.85
    p-xylene 137.12
    chlorobenzene 392.06
    dimethyl carbonate 254.18
    n-octane 55.37
    formamide 3325.07
    cyclopentanone 1003.77
    2-pentanone 687.86
    anisole 265.76
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 817.71
    gamma-butyrolactone 1253.3
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 1665.22
    pyridine 1109.46
    3-pentanone 491.58
    furfural 1067.63
    n-dodecane 27.69
    diethylene glycol 1061.44
    diisopropyl ether 225.85
    tert-amyl alcohol 1535.61
    acetylacetone 483.7
    n-hexadecane 29.09
    acetophenone 215.71
    methyl propionate 717.81
    isopentyl acetate 322.23
    trichloroethylene 2049.0
    n-nonanol 215.03
    cyclohexanol 1411.22
    benzyl alcohol 352.07
    2-ethylhexanol 349.32
    isooctanol 223.59
    dipropyl ether 519.86
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 320.34
    ethyl lactate 241.3
    propylene carbonate 636.84
    n-methylformamide 1800.47
    2-pentanol 1208.11
    n-pentane 317.22
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 792.85
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 334.96
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 245.22
    mesitylene 83.65
    ε-caprolactone 834.83
    p-cymene 112.17
    epichlorohydrin 1224.48
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 1299.03
    2-aminoethanol 2121.4
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 1126.69
    sulfolane 975.73
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 98.37
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 1415.26
    n-hexyl acetate 308.68
    isooctane 54.57
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 394.98
    sec-butyl acetate 242.09
    tert-butyl acetate 342.37
    decalin 61.76
    glycerin 1592.5
    diglyme 800.33
    acrylic acid 1981.05
    isopropyl myristate 97.12
    n-butyric acid 2366.23
    acetyl acetate 564.95
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 94.94
    ethyl propionate 361.55
    nitromethane 3733.29
    1,2-diethoxyethane 495.01
    benzonitrile 405.55
    trioctyl phosphate 78.72
    1-bromopropane 839.95
    gamma-valerolactone 1217.91
    n-decanol 141.42
    triethyl phosphate 156.07
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 344.84
    propionitrile 1177.4
    vinylene carbonate 617.25
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 1609.56
    DMS 185.72
    cumene 70.4
    2-octanol 200.96
    2-hexanone 327.93
    octyl acetate 150.26
    limonene 217.98
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 1221.31
    ethyl orthosilicate 173.54
    tributyl phosphate 96.22
    diacetone alcohol 507.9
    N,N-dimethylaniline 176.84
    acrylonitrile 1311.97
    aniline 655.7
    1,3-propanediol 2623.13
    bromobenzene 320.83
    dibromomethane 1717.25
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 1497.0
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 216.64
    tetrabutyl urea 115.33
    diisobutyl methanol 209.32
    2-phenylethanol 287.22
    styrene 139.89
    dioctyl adipate 138.02
    dimethyl sulfate 309.46
    ethyl butyrate 396.69
    methyl lactate 429.62
    butyl lactate 215.65
    diethyl carbonate 234.61
    propanediol butyl ether 382.66
    triethyl orthoformate 285.32
    p-tert-butyltoluene 117.46
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 208.65
    morpholine 2187.51
    tert-butylamine 1384.63
    n-dodecanol 102.52
    dimethoxymethane 922.14
    ethylene carbonate 532.31
    cyrene 234.53
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 314.26
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 251.96
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 396.03
    4-methylpyridine 770.25
    dibutyl ether 261.26
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 209.32
    DEF 888.27
    dimethyl isosorbide 349.8
    tetrachloroethylene 1411.52
    eugenol 217.86
    triacetin 238.43
    span 80 262.82
    1,4-butanediol 825.66
    1,1-dichloroethane 1445.29
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 485.72
    methyl formate 1185.37
    2-methyl-1-butanol 1128.9
    n-decane 54.03
    butyronitrile 1176.58
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 233.48
    1-chlorooctane 157.62
    1-chlorotetradecane 52.8
    n-nonane 60.37
    undecane 35.59
    tert-butylcyclohexane 63.58
    cyclooctane 98.9
    cyclopentanol 1663.07
    tetrahydropyran 1540.81
    tert-amyl methyl ether 625.16
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 422.58
    1-hexene 353.95
    2-isopropoxyethanol 757.25
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 2220.77
    methyl butyrate 504.58

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction