Glycol ethers are a group of solvents based on alkyl ethers of ethylene glycol commonly used in paints. These solvents typically have higher boiling point, together with the favorable solvent properties of lower molecular weight ethers and alcohols. Glycol ethers are also sometimes called by the trade name Cellosolve, with the original being ethyl cellosolve (ethylene glycol monoethyl ether).
Glycol ethers can be also derived of diethylene glycol (carbitols). Acetates of glycols are a similar kind of potent solvents.
Recent study suggests that occupational exposure to glycol ethers is related to low motile sperm count in men,[1] but the finding has been disputed by others [2]
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Glycol ether solvents
- Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (2-methoxyethanol, CH3OCH2CH2OH)
- Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (2-ethoxyethanol, CH3CH2OCH2CH2OH)
- Ethylene glycol monopropyl ether (2-propoxyethanol, CH3CH2CH2OCH2CH2OH)
- Ethylene glycol monoisopropyl ether (2-isopropoxyethanol, (CH3)2CHOCH2CH2OH)
- Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (2-butoxyethanol, CH3CH2CH2CH2OCH2CH2OH), a widely used solvent in paintings and surface coatings, cleaning products and inks
- Ethylene glycol monophenyl ether (2-phenoxyethanol, C6H5OCH2CH2OH)
- Ethylene glycol monobenzyl ether (2-benzyloxyethanol, C6H5CH2OCH2CH2OH)
- Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol, methyl carbitol, CH3OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH)
- Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethanol, carbitol cellosolve, CH3CH2OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH)
- Diethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether (2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol, CH3CH2CH2CH2OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH)
Dialkyl ethers
- Ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (dimethoxyethane, CH3OCH2CH2OCH3), a higher boiling alternative to diethyl ether and THF, also used as a solvent for polysaccharides, a reagent in organometallic chemistry and in some electrolytes of lithium batteries
- Ethylene glycol diethyl ether (diethoxyethane, CH3CH2OCH2CH2OCH2CH3)
- Ethylene glycol dibutyl ether (dibutoxyethane, CH3CH2CH2CH2OCH2CH2OCH2CH2CH2CH3)
Esters
- Ethylene glycol methyl ether acetate (2-methoxyethyl acetate, CH3OCH2CH2OCOCH3)
- Ethylene glycol monethyl ether acetate (2-ethoxyethyl acetate, CH3CH2OCH2CH2OCOCH3)
- Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate (2-butoxyethyl acetate, CH3CH2CH2CH2OCH2CH2OCOCH3)
References
- ^ Nicola Cherry, Harry Moore, Roseanne McNamee, Allan Pacey, Gary Burgess, Julie-Ann Clyma, Martin Dippnall, Helen Baillie and Andrew Povey (2008). "Occupation and male infertility: glycol ethers and other exposures". Occup. Environ. Med. 65: 708. doi:. http://oem.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/oem.2007.035824v1?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=povey&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT.
- ^ Peter J Boogaard, Gerard M H Swaen (2008). "Letter to the editor on a recent publication titled “Occupation and male infertility: glycol ethers". Occup. Environ. Med.. http://oem.bmj.com/content/65/10/708/reply#oemed_el_591.
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