What is Dimethyl Carbonate and how is it identified?

Dimethyl carbonate, commonly called DMC, has CAS 616-38-6, molecular formula C₃H₆O₃ and molecular weight 90.08. It is also known as methyl carbonate or carbonic acid dimethyl ester, and is a clear carbonate ester liquid with a faint ester-like odor.

What is Dimethyl Carbonate used for?

DMC is used as a solvent and as a methylating, carbonylating or methoxylating reagent in pharmaceutical, agrochemical and fragrance synthesis. It is also used in lithium-ion battery electrolytes, polycarbonate production, coatings, adhesives, fuel additives and electronics cleaning.

Which specifications should be confirmed when purchasing Dimethyl Carbonate?

Confirm assay, water content, acidity, methanol or related carbonate impurities, color and residue. Industrial grade is commonly at least 99%, while battery and electronics applications may need at least 99.9% with much tighter water, acidity and impurity limits.

What physical properties make Dimethyl Carbonate useful as a green solvent?

DMC is a clear, relatively low-toxicity and biodegradable carbonate ester with a faint ester odor, boiling point near 90 °C, flash point around 17-18 °C and density about 1.07 g/mL. It is miscible with many common organic solvents and can replace more hazardous methylating or carbonylating reagents in suitable syntheses.

Dimethyl Carbonate CAS 616-38-6

Dimethyl Carbonate (DMC), CAS 616-38-6, is a low-toxicity carbonate ester used as a solvent, methylating agent and carbonylating reagent. Confirm the required purity, moisture and impurity profile for the intended application.

CAS: 616-38-6
Synonyms: Methyl carbonate, Carbonic acid dimethyl ester, DMC, Dimethyl ester carbonic acid
Einecs: 210-478-4
Molecular Formula: C₃H₆O₃
Grade: Industrial grade 99%
Package: 200kg iron drum or 50kg plastic drum packing

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Product Description

Dimethyl Carbonate (DMC), CAS 616-38-6, is a carbonate ester also named methyl carbonate or carbonic acid dimethyl ester; the EC/EINECS number is 210-478-4.

Synonyms: Methyl carbonate; Carbonic acid dimethyl ester; DMC; Dimethyl ester carbonic acid.

CAS: 616-38-6.

Molecular formula: C₃H₆O₃.

Molecular weight: 90.08.

EC number: 210-478-4.

It is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid with a faint ester-like odor that is insoluble in water but miscible with most organic solvents.

Typical properties include melting point about 2-4 °C, boiling point about 90-91 °C, flash point about 16-17 °C, and relative density about 1.07.

It is widely used as a low-toxicity solvent, methylating agent and carbonylating reagent in pharmaceutical, agrochemical and fragrance synthesis, replacing more hazardous reagents such as phosgene and dimethyl sulfate.

It is also used in lithium-ion battery electrolytes, polycarbonate production, coatings, adhesives, fuel additives and electronics cleaning.

Confirm assay, water content, acidity, methanol or related carbonate impurities, color and residue; battery and electronics applications may need at least 99.9% with tighter water, acidity and impurity limits.

DMC is flammable and moisture-sensitive in many applications. Store in tightly closed, grounded containers in a cool, ventilated flammable-liquid area away from heat, sparks, open flames, strong oxidizers and moisture ingress.

Confirm the current product-specific specification.

Confirm packaging with the requested quantity and destination requirements.

Document requirements should be confirmed from the current specification, SDS, COA, or other product-specific files.

Regulated-use suitability must be confirmed separately with current product-specific documentation.

The page is an RFQ entry point and does not state stock, price, MOQ, or fixed lead time.

For an RFQ, state the intended use, required specification, quantity, packaging, destination, and document needs.

FAQ - Technical & Supply Chain

Q:
What is Dimethyl Carbonate and how is it identified?

A: Dimethyl carbonate, commonly called DMC, has CAS 616-38-6, molecular formula C₃H₆O₃ and molecular weight 90.08. It is also known as methyl carbonate or carbonic acid dimethyl ester, and is a clear carbonate ester liquid with a faint ester-like odor.
Q:
What is Dimethyl Carbonate used for?

A: DMC is used as a solvent and as a methylating, carbonylating or methoxylating reagent in pharmaceutical, agrochemical and fragrance synthesis. It is also used in lithium-ion battery electrolytes, polycarbonate production, coatings, adhesives, fuel additives and electronics cleaning.
Q:
Which specifications should be confirmed when purchasing Dimethyl Carbonate?

A: Confirm assay, water content, acidity, methanol or related carbonate impurities, color and residue. Industrial grade is commonly at least 99%, while battery and electronics applications may need at least 99.9% with much tighter water, acidity and impurity limits.
Q:
How should Dimethyl Carbonate be stored and handled?

A: DMC is flammable and moisture-sensitive in many applications. Store it in tightly closed, grounded containers in a cool, ventilated flammable-liquid area away from heat, sparks, open flames, strong oxidizers and moisture ingress.
Q:
What physical properties make Dimethyl Carbonate useful as a green solvent?

A: DMC is a clear, relatively low-toxicity and biodegradable carbonate ester with a faint ester odor, boiling point near 90 °C, flash point around 17-18 °C and density about 1.07 g/mL. It is miscible with many common organic solvents and can replace more hazardous methylating or carbonylating reagents in suitable syntheses.

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