General Description
A colorless liquid with a mild pleasant odor. DIETHYL CARBONATE(105-58-8) is slightly less dense than water and insoluble in water. Hence floats on water. Flash point 77°F. Vapors are heavier than air. When heated to high temperatures DIETHYL CARBONATE(105-58-8) may emit acrid smoke. Used as a solvent.
Reactivity Profile
DIETHYL CARBONATE reacts with acids to liberate heat along with ethanol and carbon dioxide. Strong oxidizing acids may cause a vigorous reaction that is sufficiently exothermic to ignite the reaction products. Heat is also generated by the interaction with caustic solutions. Flammable hydrogen is generated by mixing with alkali metals and hydrides.
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Insoluble in water.
Health Hazard
High vapor concentrations can cause headache, irritation of eyes and respiratory tract, dizziness, nausea, weakness, loss of consciousness.
Chemical Properties
colourless liquid with a mild odour
Uses
Diethyl carbonate is esters, beta-enamino esters, carbamates and unsymmetrical alkyl carbonates. It is an active component of electrolytes used in lithium which is used as a solvent for cellulose ethers, nitro cellulose, natural and synthetic resin and in erythromycin intramuscular injections. It is also used in the synthesis of 3-ethyl-4-methyl-5-phenyl-3H-oxazol-2-one, phenobarbital, pyrethrum batteries.
Uses
Solvent for nitrocellulose; manufacture of radio tubes; fixing rare earths to cathode elements.
Application
Diethyl carbonate is a well-known linear organic carbonate that has wide applications. It is an active component of electrolytes used in lithium which is used as a solvent for cellulose ethers, nitro cellulose, manufacture of radio tubes, fixing rare earths to cathode elements, natural and synthetic resin and in erythromycin intramuscular injections. It is also used in the synthesis of 3-ethyl-4-methyl-5-phenyl-3H-oxazol-2-one, phenobarbital, pyrethrum batteries.
Definition
ChEBI: Diethyl carbonate is a carbonate ester.
Preparation
Diethyl carbonate is prepared by reaction of phosgene and ethyl alcohol to produce ethyl chlorocarbonate followed by reaction with anhydrous ethylalcohol at elevated temperatures. direct synthesis of diethyl carbonate (dec) by carboxylation of ethanol with co2 was investigated over ceria catalysts.
Production Methods
Manufacturing steps: (a) reacting chlorine and carbon monoxide
to produce (COCl2); (b) reacting phosgene with ethyl
alcohol to make ethyl chlorocarbonate (ClCO2C2H5);
(c) reacting ethyl chlorocarbonate with anhydrous ethyl
alcohol to produce diethyl carbonate.
Flammability and Explosibility
Flammable
Chemical Reactivity
Reactivity with Water Too slow to be hazardous; Reactivity with Common Materials: No reaction; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.
Carcinogenicity
A study using male and female
mice treated with 0, 50, 250, or 1000 ppm (0–140 mg/kg/day)
diethyl carbonate in drinking water indicated no carcinogenic
effects.
Purification Methods
Wash the ester (100mL) with an aqueous 10% Na2CO3 (20mL) solution, saturated CaCl2 (20mL), then water (30mL). After drying by standing over solid CaCl2 for 1hour (note that prolonged contact should be avoided because slow combination with CaCl2 occurs), it should be fractionally distilled. Also dry it over MgSO4 and distil it. [Beilstein 3 H 5, 3 I 4, 3 II 4, 3 III 5, 3 IV 5.]
