Chloromethyl methyl ether

Synonyms

Monochlorodimethyl ether; Chlordimethylether [Czech]; Chlorodimethyl ether; Chloromethoxymethane; Chloromethyl methyl ether; Dimethylchloroether; Ether methylique monochlore [French]; Ether, chloromethyl methyl; Ether, dimethyl chloro; Methane, chloromethoxy-; Methoxychloromethane; Methoxymethyl chloride; Methylchloromethyl ether; Monochlorodimethyl ether; Monochloromethyl methyl ether; alpha,alpha-Dichlorodimethyl ether; [ChemIDplus] Methyl chloromethyl ether; UN1239; [ERG 2016]

Category

Halogenated Ethers

Description

Colorless liquid with an irritating odor; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used as a methylating agent; [ACGIH]

Comments

Liquid causes second degree burns after contact for a few minutes; [CHRIS] CMME becomes rapidly contaminated with bis-chloromethyl ether, a known human carcinogen; [ACGIH] A lachrymator; [HSDB] A corrosive substance that can cause pulmonary edema; [ICSC] Bis(chloromethyl) ether and Chloromethyl methyl ether (technical grade) are listed in Table 18-3 as substances that are known human carcinogens (IARC Group 1) after occupational exposure causing lung cancer (oat cell). [Siemiatycki, p. 327]

Carcinogen--see 29 CFR 1910.1003;

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

Yes

30 mm Hg

LC50 (rat) = 55 ppm/7h

Explanatory Notes

Carcinogen--No TLV; Flash point = 0 deg C; VP = 30 mm Hg at 22 deg C; [HSDB]

No reports found; [TDR, p. 851]

Not appropriate

1 ppm

10 ppm

Yes

Yes

Skin burns

Established

Human carcinogen

Suspected Human

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Lung cancer
• Pneumonitis, toxic