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Methyl fluorosulfonate

Methyl fluorosulfonate


IUPAC name	Methyl fluorosulfonate
Other names	Methyl fluorosulphonate; fluorosulfonic acid, methyl ester; methyl fluorosulphate
Identifiers
CAS number	421-20-5
Properties
Molecular formula	CH₃O₃FS
Molar mass	114.09 g/mol
Density	1.45 g/mL
Boiling point	93 °C
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

Methyl fluorosulfonate, (also known as magic methyl, a name coined by George Olah) has the chemical formula F-SO₂-OCH₃. It is used as a powerful (about four orders of magnitude more reactive than methyl iodide) methylating reagent.

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Methyl fluorosulfonate is prepared by distillation from an equimolar mixture of fluorosulfonic acid and dimethyl sulfate.

The compound is acutely toxic (LD50 (rat) ~ 5 ppm), causing irritation of the respiratory tract and pulmonary edema, presumably through alkylation of lipids in the cell membranes.^[1]

References

^ Hite, M.; Rinehart, W.; Braun, W.; Peck, H. (1979). "Acute toxicity of methyl fluorosulfonate (Magic Methyl)". AIHA Journal 40 (7): 600-603. PMID 484483.

Category: Methylating agents