Methyl methanoate
The simplest methyl ester, combining a methanoyl group with methoxy oxygen.
- Formula
- C2H4O2
- Functional group
- Esters
- Molar mass
- 60.05 g/mol
- Also known as
- Methyl formate, Formic acid, methyl ester, 甲酸甲酯
Overview
The simplest methyl ester, combining a methanoyl group with methoxy oxygen.
Its carbonyl carbon bears hydrogen, but is also bonded to the ester oxygen. That connectivity makes it a methanoate ester rather than an aldehyde. Hydrolysis gives methanol and methanoic acid or methanoate, depending on the conditions.
Identifiers
- Formula
- C2H4O2
- Functional group
- Esters
- Molar mass
- 60.05 g/mol
- Also known as
- Methyl formate, Formic acid, methyl ester, 甲酸甲酯
Chemical identifiers
- SMILES
- COC=O
- InChI
- InChI=1S/C2H4O2/c1-4-2-3/h2H,1H3
- PubChem CID
- 7865
Related compounds
- Esters
The simplest methyl ester, combining a methanoyl group with methoxy oxygen.
References
- PubChem Compound Summary: Methyl methanoate (CID 7865)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem
Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and selected English aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-16. Chinese search names are curated nomenclature translations. Unspecified stereochemistry remains unspecified.
- OpenStax Organic Chemistry: Chemistry of estersJohn McMurry · OpenStax · 2023
Supports the qualitative structural interpretation of the recorded molecular structure; no new physical measurement or verified preparative yield is claimed.