Is 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran green solvent?What is it used for?

Yes. 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MTHF) is a potential greener solvent alternative for organic synthesis. It is a biorenewable and thus aligns with "Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries" and "Use of Renewable Feedstocks". 

Properties

2-Methyltetrahydrofuran shows resistance to reduction by lithium making it a promising candidate as electrolytes in lithium batteries. Its polarity and Lewis base strength is intermediate between tetrahydrofuran (THF) and diethyl ether. The ring opening reaction of 2-MTHF has been studied using acid chloride and iodide to form secondary chlorides and primary iodides respectively.

2-Methyltetrahydrofuran is "inversely soluble" in water. That is, its solubility decreases with increasing temperature, which is a rare property. The solubility of water in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran is reported to be 4.4 g/ 100 g at 23 °C. Much like tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran can act as a Lewis base in organometallic reactions.

Uses

2-Methyltetrahydrofuran acts as a solvent in organic synthesis. It is considered as a replacement for terahydrofuran due to its higher reaction temperature and easy separation after reaction. It is also useful in the electrolyte formulation for secondary lithium electrodes and as a component in alternative fuels. Further, it is used as a solvent for spectroscopic studies at -1960C. It also acts as a solvent for Grignard reagent in organometallic reactions. In addition to this, it plays an important role as a motor fuel.

Storage

On long term storage, tetrahydrofuran forms organic peroxides. This process can be suppressed by adding butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as a stabilizer. BHT removes the free radicals required for the peroxide formation.

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