Skip to Content
Merck
All Photos(1)

Key Documents

49920

Sigma-Aldrich

Glycerol formal

≥98.0% (GC)

Synonym(s):

1,3(or 2,3)-O-Methylene-1,2,3-propanetriol

Sign Into View Organizational & Contract Pricing


About This Item

Empirical Formula (Hill Notation):
C4H8O3
CAS Number:
Molecular Weight:
104.10
Beilstein:
103206
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
12352100
PubChem Substance ID:
NACRES:
NA.22

Quality Level

Assay

≥98.0% (GC)

contains

~0.02% 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol as stabilizer

composition

5-hydroxy-1,3-dioxane, ~60%
4-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxolane, ~40%

refractive index

n20/D 1.451 (lit.)
n20/D 1.451

bp

192-193 °C (lit.)

density

1.203 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)

SMILES string

OCC1COCO1.OC2COCOC2

InChI

1S/2C4H8O3/c5-4-1-6-3-7-2-4;5-1-4-2-6-3-7-4/h2*4-5H,1-3H2

InChI key

JIUMSISXCKWZTA-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Looking for similar products? Visit Product Comparison Guide

General description

Glycerol formal (GF) is a light glycerol acetal that is composed of ~60% 5-hydroxy-1,3-dioxane and ~40% 4-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxolane. It can be prepared by reacting glycerol and formaldehyde in the presence of acid catalyst. The potential of GF as an injection solvent for use in toxicity testing has been reported.

Application

Glycerol formal is used to to solubilize water-insoluble compounds for subsequent aqueous dilution. It has been used as a chemical and dye emulsifier and as a cosolvent for drug delivery. Glycerol formal was used as a vehicle for antibiotic delivery in rats.
Glycerol formal may be used in the multi-step synthesis of 9-[(2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy)methyl]guanine (2′-nor-2′-deoxyguanosine), an analog of acyclovir. It may be used in the preparation of 4-substituted dioxolanes.

Pictograms

Exclamation mark

Signal Word

Warning

Hazard Statements

Precautionary Statements

Hazard Classifications

Eye Irrit. 2

Storage Class Code

10 - Combustible liquids

WGK

WGK 3

Flash Point(F)

199.4 °F - closed cup

Flash Point(C)

93 °C - closed cup

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Search for Certificates of Analysis (COA) by entering the products Lot/Batch Number. Lot and Batch Numbers can be found on a product’s label following the words ‘Lot’ or ‘Batch’.

Already Own This Product?

Find documentation for the products that you have recently purchased in the Document Library.

Visit the Document Library

Customers Also Viewed

4-Substituted dioxolanes by chemoselective reactions on glycerol formal.
Gras JL, et al.
Tetrahedron Letters, 34(27), 4335-4336 (1993)
Activation by thymidine kinase and potent antiherpetic activity of 2'-nor-2'-deoxyguanosine (2' NDG).
Ashton WT, et al.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 108(4), 1716-1721 (1982)
A note on glycerol formal as a solvent in toxicity testing.
Sanderson DM.
The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 11(1), 150-156 (1959)
Selective catalytic etherification of glycerol formal and solketal with dialkyl carbonates and K2CO3.
Selva M, et al.
Green Chemistry, 14(1), 188-200 (2012)
Sarah Nickolls et al.
Advances in pharmacological sciences, 2011, 608912-608912 (2011-12-14)
GABA(A) receptors containing α2/3 subunits are current targets in the battle to develop new pain medications, as they are expressed in the spinal cord where increasing inhibitory drive should result in analgesia. However, this approach is prone to a range

Our team of scientists has experience in all areas of research including Life Science, Material Science, Chemical Synthesis, Chromatography, Analytical and many others.

Contact Technical Service