Dimethyl sulfate Chemical Properties,Uses,Production
Description
Dimethyl sulfate (chemical formula: (CH3O)2SO2) is an odorless, corrosive, oily liquid which can release toxic fumes during heating. It can be synthesized through the esterification of sulfuric acid with methanol, and alternatively by the distillation of methyl hydrogen sulfate. In industry, dimethyl sulfate is used as a methylating agent for the manufacture of many organic chemicals. It can be used for methylation of phenols, amines, and thiol. Moreover, it can be used for base sequencing and DNA chain cleavage since it can rupture the imidazole rings present in guanine. It can also be used for protein-DNA interaction analysis. However, its vapor is toxic to eyes and lungs, can do harm to our body. It is a potential carcinogen based on known experimental data.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimethyl_sulfate
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/dimethyl_sulfate#section=Top
Chemical Properties
colourless liquid
Uses
Dimethyl Sulfate is a diester of methanol and sulfuric acid. Dimethyl Sulfate is commonly used as a reagent for the methylation of phenols, amines, and thiols. Dimethyl Sulfate is an effective and widely used probe for sequence-specific protein-DNA interactions
Definition
ChEBI: The dimethyl ester of sulfuric acid.
Uses
Methylating agent in the manufacture of many organic chemicals. War gas.
General Description
Dimethyl sulfate is a colorless oily liquid, odorless to a faint onion-like odor. Dimethyl sulfate is very toxic by inhalation. Dimethyl sulfate is a combustible liquid and has a flash point of 182°F. Dimethyl sulfate is slightly soluble in water and decomposed by water to give sulfuric acid with evolution of heat. Dimethyl sulfate is corrosive to metals and tissue.
Air & Water Reactions
Water soluble.
Reactivity Profile
Pure Dimethyl sulfate and concentrated aqueous ammonia react extremely violently with one another, as is the case for tertiary organic bases, [NFPA 491M, 1991]. Dimethyl sulfate ignites in contact with unheated barium chlorite, due to the rapid formation of unstable methyl chlorite. The product of methylating an unnamed material at 110°C was alloyed to remain in a reactor for 80 min. before the reactor exploded. This involved a sulfur ester such as Dimethyl sulfate, [MCA Case History No. 1786].
Health Hazard
Acute: extremely toxic vapors and liquid -- a few whiffs or contact on skin could be fatal. Also acutely toxic if ingested. Delayed effects which are ultimately fatal may also occur. Lethal concentrations as low as 97 ppm/10 min have been reported in humans. DNA inhibition and damage to human somatic cells, and sister chromatid exchange in human fibroblast cells were observed. Delayed appearance of symptoms may permit unnoticed exposure to lethal quantities.
Health Hazard
Dimethyl sulfate is extremely hazardous because of its lack of warning properties and
delayed toxic effects. The vapor of this compound is extremely irritating to the skin, eyes,
and respiratory tract, and contact with the liquid can cause very severe burns to the eyes
and skin. Ingestion of dimethyl sulfate causes burns to the mouth, throat, and
gastrointestinal tract. The effects of overexposure to dimethyl sulfate vapor may be
delayed. After a latent period of 10 hours or more, headache and severe pain to the eyes
upon exposure to light may occur, followed by cough, tightness of the chest, shortness of
breath, difficulty in swallowing and speaking, vomiting, diarrhea, and painful urination.
Fatal pulmonary edema may develop. Systemic effects of dimethyl sulfate include
damage to the liver and kidneys.
Dimethyl sulfate is listed by IARC in Group 2A ("probable human carcinogen") and is
classified as a "select carcinogen" under the criteria of the OSHA Laboratory Standard.
Data indicate that dimethyl sulfate does not specifically harm unborn animals; dimethyl
sulfate is not a developmental toxin. It is a strong alkylating agent and does produce
genetic damage in animals and in bacterial and mammalian cell cultures.
Fire Hazard
Dimethyl sulfate is a combustible liquid (NFPA rating = 2). Toxic dimethyl sulfate
vapors are produced in a fire. Carbon dioxide or dry chemical extinguishers should
be used to fight dimethyl sulfate fires.
Fire Hazard
Material is normally stable even under fire exposure conditions and is not hazardously reactive with water. Dimethyl sulfate is incompatible with strong oxidizers and strong ammonia solutions.
Safety Profile
Confirmed carcinogen
with experimental carcinogenic,
tumorigenic, and teratogenic data. Human
poison by inhalation. Experimental poison
by ingestion, inhalation, intravenous, and
subcutaneous routes. Other experimental
reproductive effects. Human mutation datareported. A corrosive irritant to skin, eyes,
and mucous membranes. There is no odor
or initial irritation to give warning of
exposure. On brief, dd exposures,
conjunctivitis, catarrhal inflammation of the
mucous membranes of the nose, throat,
larynx, and trachea, and possibly some
reddening of the skin develop after the
latent period. With longer, heavier
exposures, the cornea shows clouding, the
irritation changes to the nasopharynx are
more marked, and after 6 to 8 hours
pulmonary edema may develop. Death may
occur in 3 or 4 days. The liver and kidneys
are frequently damaged. Spang of the liquid
on the skin can cause ulceration and localnecrosis. In patients surviving severe
exposure, there may be serious injury of the
liver and hdneys, with suppression of urine,
jaunlce, albuminuria, and hematuria
appearing. Death, resulting from the hdney
or liver damage, may be delayed for several
weeks. Flammable when exposed to heat,
flame, or oxidizers. Can react with oxidizing
materials. Violent reaction with NH4OH
and NaN3. To fight fire, use water, foam,
CO2, dry chemical. When heated to
decomposition it emits toxic fumes of SOx
See also SULFATES.
storage
work with dimethyl sulfate should be conducted in a fume hood to prevent exposure by inhalation, and appropriate impermeable gloves and safety goggles should be worn at all times to prevent skin and eye contact.
Incompatibilities
Dimethyl sulfate can react violently with ammonium hydroxide, sodium azide, and strong oxidizers.
Flammability and Explosibility
Dimethyl sulfate is a combustible liquid (NFPA rating = 2). Toxic dimethyl sulfate vapors are produced in a fire. Carbon dioxide or dry chemical extinguishers should be used to fight dimethyl sulfate fires.
Waste Disposal
Excess dimethyl sulfate and waste material containing this substance should be placed in a covered metal container, clearly labeled, and handled according to your institution's waste disposal guidelines.
Dimethyl sulfate Preparation Products And Raw materials
Raw materials
Preparation Products
Cationic Brilliant Blue RL
2,4,5-Trimethoxynitrobenzene
3'-DIMETHYLAMINOACETOPHENONE
3,5-DIBROMO-2-METHOXYBENZALDEHYDE
2,5-Dimethoxy-4-chloroaniline
3,4,5-TRIMETHOXYBENZHYDRAZIDE
3-(Dimethylamino)benzoic acid
Fursultiamine
Aminophenazone
BENZOIC 2-BENZOYL-1,2-DIMETHYLHYDRAZIDE
2-(4-(ACETYLAMINO)PHENYL)PROPIONITRILE
6-AMINO-2-METHYLTHIO-3-METHYLURACIL
o-Anisic acid
3,5-Dimethoxybenzoic acid
2-(4-Nitrophenyl)propiononitrile
5-(Dimethylamino)-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid
SCOPARONE
2-(4-aminophenyl)propiononitrile
antistatic Agent TM
Cationic surface active agent
trimethyl lauroylaminopropyl ammonium methylsulfate
2,4-Dimethoxybenzoic acid
BIFENAZATE
4-METHYLDIBENZOTHIOPHENE
α-Dimethoxymethyl-methoxypropionitrile
Methyl 4-acetamido-5-chloro-2-methoxybenzoate
Methyl 4-acetamido-2-methoxybenzoate
1-CHLOROMETHYL-2,3,4-TRIMETHOXYBENZENE
3,4-DIHYDROXY-5-METHOXYBENZOIC ACID METHYL ESTER
5-Chloro-2-(methylamino)benzophenone
7-METHYLGUANINE
2-(METHYLTHIO)BENZOIC ACID
softening CS
Methyl cedryl ether
1-METHYL-5-NITROIMIDAZOLE
2-(4-ACETAMINO-3-CHLOROPHENYL)PROPIONITRILE
Methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate
7-METHOXY-3,4,5,6-TETRAHYDRO-2H-AZEPINE
Oxybenzone
5-Chloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid
