| Tetramethyl orthosilicate | |
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tetramethoxysilane |
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Other names
tetramethyl orthosilicate; methyl silicate; silicic acid, tetramethyl ester; silicon methoxide; TMOS |
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| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 681-84-5 |
| PubChem | 12682 |
| ChemSpider | 12161 |
| Jmol-3D images | Image 1 |
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | SiC4H12O4 |
| Molar mass | 152.25 |
| Appearance | colourless liquid |
| Density | 1.032 |
| Melting point |
4–5 °C |
| Boiling point |
121–122 °C |
| Solubility in water | organic solvents |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | toxic |
| (verify) (what is: /?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
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| Infobox references | |
Tetramethyl orthosilicate is the chemical compound with the formula Si(OCH3)4. This molecule consists of four methyl groups attached to the hypothetical anion SiO44-. The basic properties are similar to the more popular tetraethyl orthosilicate, which is usually preferred because the product of hydrolysis, ethanol, is less toxic than methanol.
Tetramethyl orthosilicate hydrolyzes to SiO2:
In organic synthesis, Si(OCH3)4 has been used to convert ketones and aldehydes to the corresponding ketals and acetals, respectively.[1]
The hydrolysis of Si(OCH3)4 produces insoluble SiO2 and CH3OH (methanol). Should this process happen in the eyes, the methanol can cause irreversible eye damage, including blindness.