Glycol ethers are a class of chemical compounds consisting of

alkyl In organic chemistry, an alkyl group is an alkane missing one hydrogen. The term ''alkyl'' is intentionally unspecific to include many possible substitutions. An acyclic alkyl has the general formula of . A cycloalkyl is derived from a cycloa ...

ether In organic chemistry, ethers are a class of compounds that contain an ether group—an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups. They have the general formula , where R and R′ represent the alkyl or aryl groups. Ethers can again be ...

s that are based on

glycols A diol is a chemical compound containing two hydroxyl groups ( groups). An aliphatic diol is also called a glycol. This pairing of functional groups is pervasive, and many subcategories have been identified. The most common industrial diol is e ...

such as

ethylene glycol Ethylene glycol (IUPAC name: ethane-1,2-diol) is an organic compound (a vicinal diol) with the formula . It is mainly used for two purposes, as a raw material in the manufacture of polyester fibers and for antifreeze formulations. It is an odo ...

propylene glycol Propylene glycol (IUPAC name: propane-1,2-diol) is a viscous, colorless liquid, which is nearly odorless but possesses a faintly sweet taste. Its chemical formula is CH3CH(OH)CH2OH. Containing two alcohol groups, it is classed as a diol. It i ...

. They are commonly used as solvents in paints and cleaners. They have good solvent properties while having higher boiling points than the lower-molecular-weight ethers and alcohols. The name "Cellosolve" was registered in 1924 as a United States trademark by Carbide & Carbon Chemicals Corporation (a division of Union Carbide Corporation) for "Solvents for Gums, Resins, Cellulose Esters, and the Like". "Ethyl Cellosolve" or simply "Cellosolve" consists mainly of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether and was introduced as a lower-cost solvenet alternative to

ethyl lactate Ethyl lactate, also known as lactic acid ethyl ester, is the organic compound with the formula CH3CH(OH)CO2CH2CH3. It is the ethyl ester of lactic acid. A colorless liquid, it is a chiral ester. Being naturally derived, it is readily available ...

. "Butyl Cellosolve" (

ethylene glycol monobutyl ether 2-Butoxyethanol is an organic compound with the chemical formula BuOC2H4OH (Bu = CH3CH2CH2CH2). This colorless liquid has a sweet, ether-like odor, as it derives from the family of glycol ethers, and is a butyl ether of ethylene glycol. As a rela ...

) was introduced in 1928, and "Methyl Cellosolve" ( ethylene glycol monomethyl ether) in 1929. Glycol ethers are designated "E-series" for or "P-series" for those made from

ethylene oxide Ethylene oxide is an organic compound with the formula . It is a cyclic ether and the simplest epoxide: a three-membered ring consisting of one oxygen atom and two carbon atoms. Ethylene oxide is a colorless and flammable gas with a faintly sw ...

propylene oxide Propylene oxide is an acutely toxic and carcinogenic organic compound with the molecular formula CH3CHCH2O. This colourless volatile liquid with an odour similar to ether, is produced on a large scale industrially. Its major application is its us ...

, respectively. Typically, E-series glycol ethers are found in pharmaceuticals, sunscreens, cosmetics, inks, dyes and water-based paints, while P-series glycol ethers are used in degreasers, cleaners, aerosol paints and adhesives. Both E- and P-series glycol ethers can be used as intermediates that undergo further chemical reactions, producing glycol diethers and glycol ether acetates. P-series glycol ethers are marketed as having lower toxicity than the E-series. Most glycol ethers are water-soluble, biodegradable and only a few are considered toxic. One study suggests that occupational exposure to glycol ethers is related to low motile

sperm count A semen analysis (plural: semen analyses), also called seminogram or spermiogram, evaluates certain characteristics of a male's semen and the sperm contained therein. It is done to help evaluate male fertility, whether for those seeking pregna ...

, a finding disputed by the chemical industry.

Glycol ether solvents

* Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (2-methoxyethanol, CH₃OCH₂CH₂OH) * Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (2-ethoxyethanol, CH₃CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH) * Ethylene glycol monopropyl ether (2-propoxyethanol, CH₃CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH) * Ethylene glycol monoisopropyl ether (2-isopropoxyethanol, (CH₃)₂CHOCH₂CH₂OH) *

Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether 2-Butoxyethanol is an organic compound with the chemical formula BuOC2H4OH (Bu = CH3CH2CH2CH2). This colorless liquid has a sweet, ether-like odor, as it derives from the family of glycol ethers, and is a butyl ether of ethylene glycol. As a rela ...

(2-butoxyethanol, CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH), a widely used solvent in paintings and surface coatings, cleaning products and inks * Ethylene glycol monophenyl ether (2-phenoxyethanol, C₆H₅OCH₂CH₂OH) * Ethylene glycol monobenzyl ether (2-benzyloxyethanol, C₆H₅CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH) *

Propylene glycol methyl ether Propylene glycol methyl ether (PGME or 1-methoxy-2-propanol) is an organic solvent with a wide variety of industrial and commercial uses. Similar to other glycol ethers, it is used as a carrier/solvent in printing/writing inks and paints/coatings. ...

, (1-methoxy-2-propanol, CH₃OCH₂CH(OH)CH₃) * Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol, methyl carbitol, CH₃OCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH) * Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethanol, carbitol cellosolve, CH₃CH₂OCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH) * Diethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether (2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol, butyl carbitol, CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH) *

Dipropyleneglycol methyl ether Di(propylene glycol) methyl ether is an organic solvent with a variety of industrial and commercial uses. It finds use as a less volatile alternative to propylene glycol methyl ether and other glycol ethers. The commercial product is typically a ...

C12-15 pareth-12 C1, C01, C.I or C-1 may refer to: Arts and media * C1, a note-octave in music * C1 Television, a Mongolian television channel * Schecter C-1 Hellraiser FR, a guitar model * A Yamaha grand piano model * "C1", a slang expression in the video gam ...

a polyethylene glycol ether used as an emulsifier in cosmetics

Dialkyl ethers

* Ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (dimethoxyethane, CH₃OCH₂CH₂OCH₃), a higher boiling alternative to

diethyl ether Diethyl ether, or simply ether, is an organic compound in the ether class with the formula , sometimes abbreviated as (see Pseudoelement symbols). It is a colourless, highly volatile, sweet-smelling ("ethereal odour"), extremely flammable li ...

and

THF Tetrahydrofuran (THF), or oxolane, is an organic compound with the formula (CH2)4O. The compound is classified as heterocyclic compound, specifically a cyclic ether. It is a colorless, water- miscible organic liquid with low viscosity. It is ...

, also used as a solvent for polysaccharides, a reagent in organometallic chemistry and in some electrolytes of

lithium batteries Lithium battery may refer to: * Lithium metal battery, a non-rechargeable battery with lithium as an anode ** Rechargeable lithium metal battery, a rechargeable counterpart to the lithium metal battery * Lithium-ion battery, a rechargeable batte ...

Ethylene glycol diethyl ether Glycol ethers are a class of chemical compounds consisting of alkyl ethers that are based on glycols such as ethylene glycol or propylene glycol. They are commonly used as solvents in paints and cleaners. They have good solvent properties while h ...

(diethoxyethane, CH₃CH₂OCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₃) * Ethylene glycol dibutyl ether (dibutoxyethane, CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃)

Esters

* Ethylene glycol methyl ether acetate (2-methoxyethyl acetate, CH₃OCH₂CH₂OCOCH₃) * Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate (2-ethoxyethyl acetate, CH₃CH₂OCH₂CH₂OCOCH₃) * Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate (2-butoxyethyl acetate, CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OCOCH₃) * Propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (1-methoxy-2-propanol acetate)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Glycol Ethers Commodity chemicals