(Hydroxyethyl)methacrylate

Hydroxyethylmethacrylate (also known as glycol methacrylate)^[3][4] is the organic compound with the chemical formula H₂C=C(CH₃)CO₂CH₂CH₂OH. It is a colorless viscous liquid that readily polymerizes, i.e. it is a monomer that is used to make various polymers.

(Hydroxyethyl)methacrylate

Names
Preferred IUPAC name 2-Hydroxyethyl 2-methylprop-2-enoate
Other names HEMA; hydroxyethylmethacrylate; glycol methacrylate; glycol monomethacrylate; hydroxyethyl methacrylate; ethylene glycol methacrylate; 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethanol
Identifiers
CAS Number	868-77-9 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image Interactive image
Beilstein Reference	1071583
ChEBI	CHEBI:34288 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL1730239
ChemSpider	12791 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.011.621
EC Number	212-782-2
Gmelin Reference	936557
KEGG	C14530 Y
PubChem CID	13360
RTECS number	OZ4725000
UNII	6E1I4IV47V Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID00891152 DTXSID7022128, DTXSID00891152
InChI InChI=1S/C6H10O3/c1-5(2)6(8)9-4-3-7/h7H,1,3-4H2,2H3 Y Key: WOBHKFSMXKNTIM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C6H10O3/c1-5(2)6(8)9-4-3-7/h7H,1,3-4H2,2H3 Key: WOBHKFSMXKNTIM-UHFFFAOYAH
SMILES O=C(OCCO)\C(=C)C CC(=C)C(=O)OCCO
Properties
Chemical formula	C6H10O3
Molar mass	130.143 g·mol−1
Appearance	Colourless liquid
Density	1.07 g/cm3
Melting point	−99 °C (−146 °F; 174 K)[1]
Boiling point	213 °C (415 °F; 486 K)[1]
Solubility in water	miscible
log P	0.50[2]
Vapor pressure	0.08 hPa
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards	Eye irritation
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Warning
Hazard statements	H315, H317, H319
Precautionary statements	P261, P264, P272, P280, P302+P352, P305+P351+P338, P321, P332+P313, P333+P313, P337+P313, P362, P363, P501
Flash point	97 °C (207 °F; 370 K)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Y verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Synthesis

Hydroxyethylmethacrylate was first synthesized around 1925. Common methods of synthesis are:^[5]

• reaction of methacrylic acid with ethylene oxide:

H₂C=C(CH₃)CO₂H + CH₂CH₂O → H₂C=C(CH₃)CO₂CH₂CH₂OH

• esterification of methacrylic acid with a large excess of ethylene glycol.

H₂C=C(CH₃)CO₂H + HOCH₂CH₂OH → H₂C=C(CH₃)CO₂CH₂CH₂OH + H₂O

Both these methods give also some amount of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. During polymerization of hydroxyethylmethacrylate, it works as crosslinking agent.^[5]

Properties

Hydroxyethylmethacrylate is completely miscible with water and ethanol, but its polymer is practically insoluble in common solvents. Its viscosity is 0.0701 Pa⋅s at 20°C^[6] and 0.005 Pa⋅s at 30°C.^[3] During polymerization, it shrinks by approximately 6%.^[6]

Applications

Contact lenses

In 1960, O. Wichterle and D. Lím^[7] described its use in synthesis of hydrophilic crosslinked networks, and these results had great importance for manufacture of soft contact lenses.^[5] Polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate is hydrophilic: it is capable of absorbing from 10 to 600% water relative to the dry weight. Because of this property, it was one of the first materials to be used in the manufacture of soft contact lenses.^[8]

Use in 3D printing

Hydroxyethylmethacrylate lends itself well to applications in 3D printing as it cures quickly at room temperature when exposed to UV light in the presence of photoinitiators. It may be used as a monomeric matrix in which 40nm silica particles are suspended for 3D glass printing.^[9] When combined with a suitable blowing agent such as BOC anhydride it forms a foaming resin which expands when heated.^[10]

Other

In electron microscopy, later in light microscopy, hydroxyethylmethacrylate serves as an embedding medium.^[4][3]

When treated with polyisocyanates, polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate makes a crosslinked polymer, an acrylic resin, that is a useful component in some paints.^[11]

Hazards

Hydroxyethylmethacrylate is a mild skin irritant and can cause allergic skin reactions.^[3]