Trimethyl phosphate is the trimethyl ester of phosphoric acid. It is a colourless, nonvolatile liquid. It has the chemical formula or . It has some specialized uses in the production of other compounds.D. E. C. Corbridge "Phosphorus: An Outline of its Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Technology" 5th Edition Elsevier: Amsterdam 1995. .
Production Trimethyl phosphate is prepared by treating phosphorus oxychloride with methanol in the presence of an amine base:
It is a tetrahedral molecule that is a weakly polar solvent.
Applications Trimethyl phosphate is a mild methylating agent, useful for dimethylation of anilines and related heterocyclic compounds. The method is complementary to the traditional Eschweiler-Clarke reaction in cases where formaldehyde engages in side reactions.
Trimethyl phosphate is used as a solvent for aromatic halogenations and nitrations as required for the preparation of pesticides and pharmaceuticals.
Other applications It is used as a color inhibitor for fibers (e.g. polyester) and other polymers. Trimethyl phosphate is used as a simulant for chemical weapon nerve agents.
Safety considerations With an LD50 of 2g/kg for rats, trimethylphosphate is expected to have low acute toxicity.J. Svara, N. Weferling, T. Hofmann "Phosphorus Compounds, Organic" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2006.
References
External links WebBook page for C3H9PO4