Methanediol

Methanediol, also called methylene glycol, is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CH₂(OH)₂. It is the simplest diol.

Methanediol can lose a water molecule to make formaldehyde. In very dilute solutions of formaldehyde in water, methanediol is the main chemical species present. Other species in formaldehyde solution include 1,3,5-trioxane and paraformaldehyde.

Chemistry

Methanediol is a very weak acid. Its conjugate base, methanediolate, is a byproduct of oxidation of formaldehyde in the presence of strong base.^[1]^[2]

References

↑ Weber, C. J.; Pickering, H. W.; Weil, K. G. (1997). "Surface Development during Electroless Copper Deposition". Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 144 (7): 2364–2369. Bibcode:1997JElS..144.2364W. doi:10.1149/1.1837819.
↑ Yan, Rui-Wen; Jin, Bao-Kang (2013). "Study of the electrochemical oxidation mechanism of formaldehyde on gold electrode in alkaline solution". Chinese Chemical Letters. 24 (2): 159–162. doi:10.1016/j.cclet.2013.01.023.

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[1] Weber, C. J.; Pickering, H. W.; Weil, K. G. (1997). "Surface Development during Electroless Copper Deposition". Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 144 (7): 2364–2369. Bibcode:1997JElS..144.2364W. doi:10.1149/1.1837819.

[2] Yan, Rui-Wen; Jin, Bao-Kang (2013). "Study of the electrochemical oxidation mechanism of formaldehyde on gold electrode in alkaline solution". Chinese Chemical Letters. 24 (2): 159–162. doi:10.1016/j.cclet.2013.01.023.

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