white to light yellow crystalline powder
Antiseptic, disinfectant especially for surgical instruments.
N-(Hydroxymethyl)acetamide (cas# 625-51-4) is used as a catalyst in the method for manufacturing sol-gel silica particles method for manufacturing coating substrate coated with silica particles.
Recrystallise it from freshly distilled Me2CO, wash the crystals with dry Et2O and dry them in a vacuum desiccator over P2O5. RF 0.4 on paper chromatography with CHCl3/EtOH (2:8) as solvent and developed with ammoniacal AgNO3. It also crystallises in needles from EtOAc containing a few drops of Me2CO. It is hygroscopic and should be stored under dry conditions. [Bachmann et al. J Am Chem Soc 73 2775 1951, Walter et al. Chem Ber 99 3204 1966, Einhorn & Ladisch Justus Liebigs Ann Chem 343 265 1905, Beilstein 2 IV 405.]
