Methylpyrrolidone
Encyclopedia
N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is a chemical compound
with 5-membered lactam
structure. It is a clear to slightly yellow liquid miscible with water and solvents like ethyl acetate
, chloroform
, benzene
and lower alcohol
s or ketone
s. It also belongs to the class of dipolar aprotic solvents which includes also dimethylformamide
, dimethylacetamide
and dimethyl sulfoxide
. Other names for this compound are: 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, and m-pyrrole, and pharmasolve.
N-Methylpyrrolidone is used to recover pure hydrocarbons while processing petrochemicals (such as the recovery of 1,3-butadiene
using NMP as an extractive distillation
solvent) and in the desulfurization of gases. Due to its good solvency properties N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone is used to dissolve a wide range of chemicals, especially in the polymer
s field. It also used as a solvent for surface treatment of textile
s, resins and metal coated plastics or as a paint stripper
. In the pharmaceutical industry, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone is used in the formulation for drugs by both oral and transdermal delivery routes.
N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone and its derivatives are used as intermediates for the synthesis of agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, textile auxiliaries, plasticizers, stabilizers and specialty inks. It is also employed as a nylon
precursor. The rubber industry uses it for SBR latex production and the electronics industry for printed circuit board manufacturing.
World production capacity for NMP was 226 million lb in 2006. NMP has desirable properties such as low volatility, low flammability, and relatively low toxicity. However, it has been identified as a reproductive toxicant, first by California in 2001 and then by the European Commission in 2003. In the face of increasing regulation, some manufacturers are considering alternative solvents for some applications, especially where worker exposure is difficult to control, such as in paint stripping, graffiti removal and agriculture.
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
with 5-membered lactam
Lactam
A lactam is a cyclic amide. Prefixes indicate how many carbon atoms are present in the ring: β-lactam , γ-lactam , δ-lactam...
structure. It is a clear to slightly yellow liquid miscible with water and solvents like ethyl acetate
Ethyl acetate
Ethyl acetate is the organic compound with the formula CH3COOCH2CH3. This colorless liquid has a characteristic sweet smell and is used in glues, nail polish removers, and cigarettes...
, chloroform
Chloroform
Chloroform is an organic compound with formula CHCl3. It is one of the four chloromethanes. The colorless, sweet-smelling, dense liquid is a trihalomethane, and is considered somewhat hazardous...
, benzene
Benzene
Benzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
and lower alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
s or ketone
Ketone
In organic chemistry, a ketone is an organic compound with the structure RCR', where R and R' can be a variety of atoms and groups of atoms. It features a carbonyl group bonded to two other carbon atoms. Many ketones are known and many are of great importance in industry and in biology...
s. It also belongs to the class of dipolar aprotic solvents which includes also dimethylformamide
Dimethylformamide
Dimethylformamide is an organic compound with the formula 2NCH. Commonly abbreviated as DMF , this colourless liquid is miscible with water and the majority of organic liquids. DMF is a common solvent for chemical reactions...
, dimethylacetamide
Dimethylacetamide
Dimethylacetamide is the organic compound with the formula CH3CN2. This colorless, water miscible, high boiling liquid is commonly used as a polar solvent in organic chemistry. DMAc is miscible with most other solvents, although it is poorly soluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons.The chemical reactions...
and dimethyl sulfoxide
Dimethyl sulfoxide
Dimethyl sulfoxide is an organosulfur compound with the formula 2SO. This colorless liquid is an important polar aprotic solvent that dissolves both polar and nonpolar compounds and is miscible in a wide range of organic solvents as well as water...
. Other names for this compound are: 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, and m-pyrrole, and pharmasolve.
N-Methylpyrrolidone is used to recover pure hydrocarbons while processing petrochemicals (such as the recovery of 1,3-butadiene
1,3-Butadiene
1,3-Butadiene is a simple conjugated diene with the formula C4H6. It is an important industrial chemical used as a monomer in the production of synthetic rubber. When the word butadiene is used, most of the time it refers to 1,3-butadiene....
using NMP as an extractive distillation
Extractive distillation
Extractive distillation is defined as distillation in the presence of a miscible, high boiling, relatively non-volatile component, the solvent, that forms no azeotrope with the other components in the mixture. The method is used for mixtures having a low value of relative volatility, nearing unity...
solvent) and in the desulfurization of gases. Due to its good solvency properties N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone is used to dissolve a wide range of chemicals, especially in the polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
s field. It also used as a solvent for surface treatment of textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
s, resins and metal coated plastics or as a paint stripper
Paint stripper
Paint stripper, or paint remover, is the generic name given to solvent mixtures designed to remove paint and other finishes and also to clean the underlying surface. The principal active ingredient is usually dichloromethane...
. In the pharmaceutical industry, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone is used in the formulation for drugs by both oral and transdermal delivery routes.
N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone and its derivatives are used as intermediates for the synthesis of agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, textile auxiliaries, plasticizers, stabilizers and specialty inks. It is also employed as a nylon
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
precursor. The rubber industry uses it for SBR latex production and the electronics industry for printed circuit board manufacturing.
World production capacity for NMP was 226 million lb in 2006. NMP has desirable properties such as low volatility, low flammability, and relatively low toxicity. However, it has been identified as a reproductive toxicant, first by California in 2001 and then by the European Commission in 2003. In the face of increasing regulation, some manufacturers are considering alternative solvents for some applications, especially where worker exposure is difficult to control, such as in paint stripping, graffiti removal and agriculture.