Uses
Tetramethylammonium acetate is used as an intermediate in organic synthesis, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and dyestuffs. Further, it is used to prepare (1R,4S)-4-hydroxycyclopent-2-en-1-essigsaeure-methylester by reacting with 1,3-dimethyl-imidazolidin-2-one. In addition to this, it serves as an emulsifier, catalyst, sterilizer, antistatic and antiseptic agent.
Synthesis
General procedure for the synthesis of tetramethylammonium acetate from tetramethylammonium hydroxide and glacial acetic acid: 247 mg (4.11 mmol) of glacial acetic acid and 1.50 g (4.11 mmol) of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (25% wt. of methanol solution) were dissolved in 10 mL of methanol. The reaction mixture was stirred at 40°C for 4 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was filtered and the solvent was subsequently removed using a rotary evaporator to give a viscous oil which gradually solidified. The residual trace solvent was removed under high vacuum to give a white solid product. The white solid was washed with ether and subsequently dried under vacuum to give 480 mg of white solid tetramethylammonium acetate in 87.6% yield.
