Orthoformic acid or methanetriol is a chemical compound with the formula HC(OH)3. In this molecule, the central carbon atom is bound to one hydrogen and three hydroxyl groups.
Names | |
---|---|
Preferred IUPAC name
Methanetriol[1] | |
Other names
Orthoformic acid
Trihydroxymethane | |
Identifiers | |
| |
3D model (JSmol)
|
|
ChemSpider |
|
PubChem CID
|
|
UNII |
|
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
|
|
| |
| |
Properties | |
HC(OH)3 | |
Molar mass | 64.040 g·mol−1 |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
verify (what is ?)
Infobox references
|
Orthoformic acid was long held to be a hypothetical chemical compound too unstable to isolate or observe, as it was expected to decompose instantly into formic acid and water.[2] The compound was first observed in 2024 by mass spectrometry, which involved the electron-irradiated of a frozen mixture of methanol and oxygen.[3]
Methanetriol esters, known as orthoformates, are well known and commercially available.[4][5] Like acetals, they are stable towards bases but easily hydrolyzed in acidic conditions to the alcohol and an ester of formic acid. They are used as mild dehydrating agents. Especially well known are trimethyl orthoformate, triethyl orthoformate, and triisopropyl orthoformate.