Applications of diethoxymethane as a versatile process solvent and unique reagent in organic synthesis

Diethoxymethane (DEM) has recently become available in commercial quantities. It has unique properties and is useful in a variety of applications in organic synthesis. It is low boiling (88 degreesC), azeotropes with water, and has a very low affinity for water. It is stable under basic conditions and as manufactured does not require drying for use as a solvent, even for organometallic reactions. DEM is useful as a process solvent especially for sodium hydride reactions, organolithium chemistry, copper-catalyzed conjugate additions, and phase-transfer reactions. As such, DEM is a potential replacement for tetrahydrofuran (THF), dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), glyme (1,2-dimethoxyethane), and methylal (1,1-dimethoxymethane), DEM is also useful as an ethoxymethylating agent, a formaldehyde equivalent, and a carbonylation substrate. Due to these unique properties and applications, DEM has exciting potential for widespread use both as a reagent and especially as a preferred solvent.