Orthocarbonic acid

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Orthocarbonic acid
Stereo skeletal formula of orthocarbonic acid
Ball and stick model of orthocarbonic acid
Names
IUPAC name
orthocarbonic acid
Systematic IUPAC name
Methanetetrol[1] (substitutive)
Identifiers
463-84-3 N
ChemSpider 7826887 YesY
Jmol 3D model Interactive image
PubChem 9547954
  • InChI=1S/CH4O4/c2-1(3,4)5/h2-5H YesY
    Key: RXCVUXLCNLVYIA-UHFFFAOYSA-N YesY
  • OC(O)(O)O
Properties
CH4O4
Molar mass 80.04 g·mol−1
Related compounds
Related compounds
Dihydroxymethylidene

Silicic acid

Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Orthocarbonic acid or methanetetrol is the name given to a hypothetical compound with the chemical formula H4CO4 or C(OH)4. Its molecular structure consists of a single carbon atom bonded to four hydroxyl groups. It would be therefore a fourfold alcohol. In theory it could lose four protons to give the hypothetical oxocarbon anion CO4−
4
(orthocarbonate), and is therefore considered an oxoacid of carbon.

Orthocarbonic acid is highly unstable, decomposing spontaneously into carbonic acid monohydrate:[2][3]

H4CO4 → H2CO3 + H2O.

Orthocarbonic acid is one of the group of carboxylic ortho acids that have the general structure of RC(OH)3.The term ortho acid is also used to refer to the most hydroxylated acid in a set of oxoacids.

Orthocarbonate anions

By loss of one through four protons, orthocarbonic acid could yield four anions: H
3
CO
4
, H
2
CO2−
4
, HCO3−
4
, and CO4−
4
.

As of 2002, salts of these anions had yet to be observed. However, theoretical studies suggest that Na4CO4 might be stable.[4]

Orthocarbonate esters

The tetravalent moiety CO4 is found in stable organic compounds; they are formally esters of orthocarbonic acid, and therefore are called orthocarbonates. For example, ethyl orthocarbonate can be prepared by the reaction between chloropicrin and sodium ethoxide in ethanol.[5] Polyorthocarbonates are stable polymers that might have applications in absorbing organic solvents in waste treatment processes,[6] or in dental restorative materials.[7]

References

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  3. Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives IUPAC Recommendations on Organic & Biochemical Nomenclature
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  5. Orthocarbonic acid, tetraethyl ester Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 4, p.457 (1963); Vol. 32, p.68 (1952)
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