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Methyl methacrylate

Methyl methacrylate
Methyl methacrylate
Methyl methacrylate-3d.png
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Methyl 2-methylprop-2-enoate
Other names
Methyl 2-methylpropenoate
methyl methacrylate
MMA
2-(methoxycarbonyl)-1-propene
Identifiers
3D model (Jmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.001.180
KEGG
RTECS number OZ5075000
UNII
Properties
C5H8O2
Molar mass 100.12 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless liquid
Odor acrid, fruity
Density 0.94 g/cm3
Melting point −48 °C (−54 °F; 225 K)
Boiling point 101 °C (214 °F; 374 K)
1.5 g/100 ml
Vapor pressure 29 mmHg (20°C)
-57.3·10−6 cm3/mol
Viscosity 0.6 cP at 20 °C
Structure
1.6–1.97 D
Hazards
Main hazards Flammable
Safety data sheet See: data page
Methyl methacrylate MSDS
Flash point 2 °C (36 °F; 275 K)
435 °C (815 °F; 708 K)
Explosive limits 1.7%-8.2%
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
18750 ppm (rat, 4 hr)
4447 ppm (mouse, 2 hr)
3750 ppm (rat)
4808 ppm (mammal)
4400 ppm (rat, 8 hr)
4400 ppm (rabbit, 8 hr)
4207 ppm (rabbit, 4.5 hr)
4567 ppm (guinea pig, 5 hr)
US health exposure limits (NIOSH):
PEL (Permissible)
TWA 100 ppm (410 mg/m3)
REL (Recommended)
TWA 100 ppm (410 mg/m3)
IDLH (Immediate danger)
1000 ppm
Supplementary data page
Refractive index (n),
Dielectric constantr), etc.
Thermodynamic
data
Phase behaviour
solid–liquid–gas
UV, IR, NMR, MS
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N  (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is an organic compound with the formula CH2=C(CH3)COOCH3. This colourless liquid, the methyl ester of methacrylic acid (MAA) is a monomer produced on a large scale for the production of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).

The compound is manufactured by several methods, the principal one being the acetone cyanohydrin (ACH) route. ACH is produced by condensation of acetone and hydrogen cyanide. The cyanohydrin is hydrolyzed in the presence of sulfuric acid to a sulfate ester of the methacrylamide, Methanolysis of this ester gives ammonium bisulfate and MMA. Although widely used, the ACH route coproduces substantial amounts of ammonium sulfate.

In fact the sulfate ester of the amide is initially produced as an adduct with sulfuric acid ((CH3)2C(OSO3H)C(O)NH2. H2SO4), which is removed in a cracking step. The sulfate ester is then methanolyzed (reacted with methanol):

As indicated in the last reaction, each kilogram of methyl methacrylate produced yields 2.5 kg of ammonium hydrogen sulphate, Disposal of this salt is energy intensive. This technology affords more than 3 billion kilograms per year.

The economics of the ACH route have been heavily optimized.

Given the scale of production, many methods have been developed starting from diverse two- to four-carbon precursors.


Ethylene is first hydroformylated to give propanal, which is then condensed with formaldehyde to produce methacrolein, The condensation is catalyzed by a secondary amine. Air oxidation of methacrolein to methacrylic acid completes the synthesis of the acid:


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