Penn A Kem MeTHF - Green Performance

Improve your performance while reducing your costs and environmental impact by replacing solvents like tetrahydrofuran (THF) and methylene chloride (DCM) with bio-based methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF)!
 

Green
  • Derived from waste agricultural products
  • Readily biodegradable
  • Easily recyclable
Better Performance
  • Improved extraction yields
  • More effective drying
  • Stable in acidic and basic conditions

 

Higher Extraction Yields + Easier Recycling = Cost Savings

 

QUICK SOLVENT COMPARISON

  MeTHF THF DCM
Boiling point (°C) 80 66 40
Density (at 20°C) 0.86 0.89 1.32
Water solubility in solvent (at 20°C) 4.1% infinite 2.0%
Water azeotrope composition (% water) 10.6% 6.7% 1.5%

 

EXAMPLE Markets THAT Use MeTHF

  • Pharmaceutical
    • Active pharmaceutical ingredients (API)
  • Flavors & fragrances
  • Specialty chemicals

 

Example applications that can benefit from MeTHF

  • Organometallic/metal-catalyzed coupling reactions
    • Organopalladium reactions
    • Organozinc reactions
      • Reformatsky reactions
    • Organolithium reactions
      • Lithiation reactions
      • Lithium hydride reductions
    • Grignard reactions
  • Biphasic reactions
  • Extractions (of API, catalyst, etc.)


Why choose methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF) over tetrahydrofuran (THF)?

  • MeTHF is a more efficient extraction solvent for a wide range of extract polarities.
    • MeTHF can reduce the number of extraction steps and increase product recovery.
  • MeTHF can increase the yield in Grignard reactions by up to 300%, depending on the reagent.
  • MeTHF has cleaner phase separations with water.
    • MeTHF does not require the addition of toluene to achieve phase separation.
  • MeTHF is safer due to its lower volatility and higher flash point.
  • MeTHF has a higher boiling point, resulting in less solvent lost to the atmosphere.
  • MeTHF is inversely soluble in water.
  • MeTHF is easier to recycle and dry.
  • MeTHF is more stable in both acidic and basic conditions.
  • MeTHF degrades about 6x slower under typical process conditions.
  • MeTHF is derived from renewable resources, while THF is derived from petroleum.


Why choose methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF) over methylene chloride/dichloromethane (DCM)?

  • MeTHF is a strong solvent for polar compounds typically soluble in DCM.
  • MeTHF is a non-halogenated solvent.
  • With MeTHF, water washes decant from reactor bottom instead of top.
  • MeTHF is inversely soluble in water.
  • MeTHF has a higher boiling point, resulting in less solvent lost to the atmosphere.
  • MeTHF is a more effective drying solvent due to the water content in the azeotrope.


Why choose Penn A Kem's MeTHF?

  • Penn A Kem is the world leader in furan ring chemistries.
  • Penn A Kem has been the premier producer of MeTHF for 25+ years.
  • Penn A Kem's MeTHF is derived from waste agricultural products that would otherwise go to rot.
  • Penn A Kem's MeTHF is 100% made in the USA.


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