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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