Dimethoxymethane

In perfumery; manufacture of artificial resins; reaction medium for Grignard and Reppe reactions.
Methylal is a low-boiling solvent, stable in the presence of alkalis and mild acids, and to high temperatures and pressures. It differs from other ethers in that it forms only minute omounts of peroxides. It will dissolve such synthetic resins as nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate and propionate, ethyl cellulose, vinyl, "Epons" and polystyrene, and also many of the natural gums and waxes. Methylal as a latent solvent is activated by the addition of esters, ketones or alcohols. Its evaporation rate, twice that of acetone, places this ether in a class with such solvents as acetone, methyl acetate and ethyl acetate in resin formulations.