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Methyl acetate

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Not to be confused with Menthyl acetate.
Methyl acetate[1]
Skeletal formula
Ball-and-stick model
Names
IUPAC name
Methyl acetate
Systematic IUPAC name
Methyl ethanoate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.001.078 Edit this at Wikidata
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C3H6O2/c1-3(4)5-2/h1-2H3 checkY
    Key: KXKVLQRXCPHEJC-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C3H6O2/c1-3(4)5-2/h1-2H3
    Key: KXKVLQRXCPHEJC-UHFFFAOYAV
  • O=C(OC)C
Properties
C3H6O2
Molar mass 74.079 g·mol−1
Density 0.932 g cm−3
Melting point −98 °C (−144 °F; 175 K)
Boiling point 56.9 °C (134.4 °F; 330.0 K)
1.0 g/100 mL (20 °C)
1.361
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 1: Exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury. E.g. turpentineFlammability 3: Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions. Flash point between 23 and 38 °C (73 and 100 °F). E.g. gasolineInstability (yellow): no hazard codeSpecial hazards (white): no code
1
3
Flash point −9 °C
Related compounds
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
checkY verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Methyl acetate, also known as MeOAc, acetic acid methyl ester or methyl ethanoate, is a carboxylate ester with the formula CH3COOCH3. It is a flammable liquid with a characteristically pleasant smell reminiscent of some glues and nail polish removers. Methyl acetate is occasionally used as a solvent, being weakly polar and lipophilic, but its close relative ethyl acetate is a more common solvent being less toxic and less soluble in water. Methyl acetate has a solubility of 25% in water at room temperature. At elevated temperature its solubility in water is much higher. Methyl acetate is not stable in the presence of strong aqueous bases or acids. Methyl acetate is VOC exempt.[2]

Preparation and reactions

Methyl acetate is produced industrially via the carbonylation of methanol as a byproduct of the production of acetic acid.[3] Methyl acetate also arises by esterification of acetic acid with methanol in the presence of strong acids such as sulfuric acid, this production process is famous because of Eastman's Kodak intensified process using a reactive distillation.

Reactions

In the presence of strong bases such as sodium hydroxide or strong acids such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid it is hydrolyzed back into methanol and acetic acid, especially at elevated temperature. The conversion of methyl acetate back into its components, by an acid, is a first-order reaction with respect to the ester. The reaction of methyl acetate and a base, for example sodium hydroxide, is a second-order reaction with respect to both reactants.

Applications

A major use of methyl acetate is as a volatile low toxicity solvent in glues, paints, and nail polish removers.

Acetic anhydride is produced by carbonylation of methyl acetate in a process that was inspired by the Monsanto acetic acid synthesis.[4]

References

  1. ^ Merck Index, 12th Edition, 6089.
  2. ^ Zeno, W. Wicks, JR, Frank N. Jones, S. Peter Pappas, and Douglas A. Wicks. Organic Coatings Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley, 2007. ISBN# 978-0-471-69806-7
  3. ^ Hosea Cheung, Robin S. Tanke, G. Paul Torrence “Acetic Acid” in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2002, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.a01_045
  4. ^ Zoeller, J. R.; Agreda, V. H.; Cook, S. L.; Lafferty, N. L.; Polichnowski, S. W.; Pond, D. M. (1992). "Eastman Chemical Company Acetic Anhydride Process". Catalysis Today. 13: 73–91. doi:10.1016/0920-5861(92)80188-S.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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