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| Names | |
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| Preferred IUPAC name Methyl hydrogen sulfate | |
Other names
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3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChEBI | |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.834 |
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| Properties | |
| (CH3)HSO4 | |
| Molar mass | 112.10 g·mol−1 |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Methyl bisulfate is a chemical compound with the molecular formula(CH3)HSO4. This compound is the mono-methylester ofsulfuric acid. Its structure isCH3−O−S(=O)2−OH. The significance of methyl bisulfate is that it is an intermediate in the hydrolysis of the important reagentdimethyl sulfate,(CH3)2SO4:[1]
Methyl bisulfate is a strong acid:
Methyl bisulfate came into the public view in 1993 with the discovery that certainmercury compoundscatalyze theconversion ofmethane to methylbisulfate in good yields with excellent selectivity in concentratedsulfuric acid.[2] However, because of the toxicity and concerns with the use of mercury it wasn't until 1998 when platinum complexes were found that catalyze the reaction ofCH4 bySO3 andO2 that it came into the limelight:[3][4][5]
This discovery pointed to a possible method for upgrading inexpensive and abundantly available methane (natural gas) intomethanol, which is both a more useful chemical and more easily shipped than methane. The process is proposed to proceed via an intermediate containing thePt−CH3 group.[6]
Methyl bisulfate'sconjugate base is used as acounterion in theformulation of somepharmaceutical drugs, where it is typically referred to asmetilsulfate.[7]
