Methyl formate, a clear, volatile liquid, is the simplest carboxylate ester. It can be made in the lab by the acid-catalyzed esterification of formic acid and methanol. Industrially, it is produced by the base-catalyzed reaction of methanol and carbon monoxide.

How is methyl formate formed?

Production. In the laboratory, methyl formate can be produced by the condensation reaction of methanol and formic acid, as follows: HCOOH + CH₃OH → HCO₂CH₃ + H₂O. This process, practiced commercially by BASF among other companies gives 96% selectivity toward methyl formate.

What is methyl formate used for?

Methyl formate is a formate ester resulting from the formal condensation of formic acid with methanol. A low-boiling (31.5 ℃) colourless, flammable liquid, it has been used as a fumigant and larvicide for tobacco and food crops. It has a role as a polar aprotic solvent, a fumigant, an insecticide and a refrigerant.