Methyl lactate, also known as lactic acid methyl

ester In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an acid (either organic or inorganic) in which the hydrogen atom (H) of at least one acidic hydroxyl group () of that acid is replaced by an organyl group (R). These compounds contain a distin ...

, is the organic compound with the formula CH₃CH(OH)CO₂CH₃. It is the methyl ester of

lactic acid Lactic acid is an organic acid. It has the molecular formula C3H6O3. It is white in the solid state and it is miscible with water. When in the dissolved state, it forms a colorless solution. Production includes both artificial synthesis as wel ...

. A colorless liquid, it is the simplest chiral ester. Being naturally derived, it is readily available as a single enantiomer.

Uses

It is a solvent for

nitrocellulose Nitrocellulose (also known as cellulose nitrate, flash paper, flash cotton, guncotton, pyroxylin and flash string, depending on form) is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through exposure to a mixture of nitric acid and ...

, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetobutyrate and cellulose acetopropionate. It is used in the manufacture of

lacquers Lacquer is a type of hard and usually shiny coating or finish applied to materials such as wood or metal. It is most often made from resin extracted from trees and waxes and has been in use since antiquity. Asian lacquerware, which may be c ...

and dopes where it contributes high tolerance for diluents, good flaw and blush resistance."Industrial Solvents Handbook" by Ernest W. Flick. 5th Edition. William Andrew Inc., 1998. , The synthesis of

1,2-propanediol Propylene glycol (IUPAC name: propane-1,2-diol) is a viscous, colorless liquid. It is almost odorless and has a faintly sweet taste. Its chemical formula is CH3CH(OH)CH2OH. As it contains two alcohol groups, it is classified as a diol. An aliph ...

from methyl lactate has been commercialized using a MACHO catalyst.

References

{{reflist Lactate esters Methyl esters Ester solvents

Uses

See also

References