2-Methoxyethoxymethyl chloride

2-Methoxyethoxymethyl chloride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.021.446
EC Number
  • 223-589-8
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C4H9ClO2/c1-6-2-3-7-4-5/h2-4H2,1H3
    Key: BIAAQBNMRITRDV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • COCCOCCl
Properties
C4H9ClO2
Molar mass 124.56 g·mol−1
Appearance colorless liquid
Density 1.094 g cm−3
Boiling point 50–52 °C (122–126 °F; 323–325 K) 13 mm Hg
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Danger
H226, H302, H315, H319, H335
P203, P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P261, P264, P264+P265, P270, P271, P280, P301+P317, P302+P352, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P318, P319, P321, P330, P332+P317, P337+P317, P362+P364, P370+P378, P403+P233, P403+P235, P405, P501
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

2-Methoxyethoxymethyl chloride is an organic compound with formula CH3OCH2CH2OCH2Cl. A colorless liquid, it is classified as a chloroalkyl ether. It is used as an alkylating agent. In organic synthesis, it is used for introducing the methoxyethoxy ether (MEM) protecting group. MEM protecting groups are generally preferred to methoxymethyl (MOM) protecting groups, both in terms of formation and removal.

Typically, the alcohol to be protected is deprotonated with a non-nucleophilic base such as N,N-diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA, Hunig's base) in dichloromethane followed by addition of 2-methoxyethoxymethyl chloride.

The MEM protecting group can be cleaved (deprotection) with a range of Lewis and Bronsted acids.