Density 1.2 g/cm³ | Appearance Colorless liquid | |
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Diethyl sulfate is a highly toxic and likely carcinogenic chemical compound with formula (C2H5)2SO4. It occurs as a colorless, oily liquid with a faint peppermint odor and is corrosive.
Contents
Diethyl sulfate is used as an alkylating agent to prepare ethyl derivatives of phenols, amines, and thiols. It is used to manufacture dyes and textiles.
Toxicity
Diethyl sulfate is a strong alkylating agent which ethylates DNA and thus is genotoxic. There is not sufficient evidence for the carcinogenic properties of diethyl sulfate in humans, but there is in animals. It is classified as a Group 2A carcinogen by the IARC
Preparation
It can be prepared by absorbing ethylene into concentrated sulfuric acid or by fuming sulfuric acid into diethyl ether or ethanol.
References
Diethyl sulfate Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA