DMF CAS Number, IUPAC Name & Chemical Identity
Complete Reference Guide - CAS · IUPAC · Synonyms · InChI · SMILES · UN Number · Database Cross-References
⚡ Quick Identity Reference - DMF at a Glance
CAS Number
68-12-2
Molecular Formula
C₃H₇NO
Molecular Weight
73.09 g/mol
UN Number
UN 2265
📋 Table of Contents
- CAS Number - What It Is & How to Use It
- IUPAC Name, Common Names & Abbreviations
- Complete Synonyms & Trade Names
- Structural Identifiers - SMILES, InChI & InChIKey
- Registry & Database Numbers - EC, EINECS, PubChem, ChemSpider
- Regulatory Identifiers - UN, ADR, HS Code, REACH
- GHS Classification & Labeling
- Major Chemical Database References
- How to Verify DMF Identity - Supplier Documentation Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Request Documented DMF from Sinolook Chemical
1 🔢 CAS Number - What It Is & How to Use It
The CAS Registry Number (Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number) is the globally accepted unique numerical identifier for chemical substances. For dimethylformamide, the CAS number is:
CAS Registry Number for Dimethylformamide (DMF)
68-12-2
N,N-Dimethylformamide · C₃H₇NO · MW 73.09
How to Read CAS 68-12-2
A CAS number has three parts separated by hyphens: [up to 7 digits] – [2 digits] – [1 check digit]. For DMF:
| Segment | Value | Role |
|---|---|---|
| First segment | 68 | Registry serial number |
| Second segment | 12 | Sub-registry identifier |
| Third segment (check digit) | 2 | Mathematical check digit for error detection |
Using CAS 68-12-2 in Practice
- Procurement: Always reference CAS 68-12-2 on purchase orders to prevent supply of incorrect material regardless of common name used
- COA verification: Confirm CAS 68-12-2 is printed on supplier Certificate of Analysis - match against your purchase order
- SDS identification: Section 1 of any GHS-compliant SDS for DMF must list CAS 68-12-2
- Database searches: Enter CAS 68-12-2 in PubChem, ChemSpider, Reaxys, SciFinder, ECHA to retrieve authoritative data
- Regulatory filings: Used in REACH registrations, ICH submissions, FDA/EMA dossiers to unambiguously identify the substance
⚠️ Important - avoid common CAS number errors: DMF (dimethylformamide) CAS 68-12-2 must not be confused with DMF-DMA (dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal) CAS 4637-24-5, or with DMAc (dimethylacetamide) CAS 127-19-5. Always verify the CAS number matches the compound you intend to purchase or use.
2 📋 IUPAC Name, Common Names & Abbreviations
Official IUPAC Name
N,N-Dimethylformamide
Systematic IUPAC name under the 2013 IUPAC recommendations for nomenclature of organic compounds. The name indicates: a formamide (HC(=O)–NH₂ base structure) where both hydrogens on the nitrogen are replaced by methyl groups (N,N-dimethyl substitution).
IUPAC Name Breakdown
Formamide: HC(=O)–NH₂ (parent)
N,N-dimethyl: both N-H replaced by CH₃
→ HC(=O)–N(CH₃)₂ = N,N-Dimethylformamide
Common Abbreviations & Shorthand
| Abbreviation | Usage Context |
|---|---|
| DMF | Universal abbreviation in chemistry, industry, and regulatory documents |
| DMFA | Used in some Eastern European and Russian chemical literature (Dimethylformamid Acid → old convention) |
| Me₂NCHO | Structural shorthand used in reaction schemes; explicitly shows the structural formula |
| HCON(CH₃)₂ | Alternative structural formula shorthand; formyl group written first |
| N,N-DMF | Used occasionally to distinguish from other DMF abbreviations (e.g. Drug Master File) |
⚠️ Disambiguation: "DMF" is also used for Drug Master File (regulatory dossier) in pharmaceutical contexts and for Decorative Metal Finish in coatings. Always confirm context when "DMF" appears in regulatory or procurement documents not specifically referencing chemistry.
3 📚 Complete Synonyms & Trade Names
Dimethylformamide appears under many names in literature, regulatory documents, safety data sheets, and commercial catalogues. The following table lists all significant synonyms to aid in literature searches, database queries, and cross-referencing of documents.
Systematic & Semi-Systematic Names
| Name | Notes |
|---|---|
| N,N-Dimethylformamide | IUPAC preferred name (PIN) |
| Dimethylformamide | Common abbreviated name |
| N,N-Dimethylmethanamide | Systematic IUPAC name using methanamide parent |
| Formyldimethylamine | Alternative systematic name (amine substitution view) |
| N,N-Dimethyl formamide | Variant spelling (space in formamide) |
| Dimethylcarboxamide | Older designation; less precise |
Common, Trade & Regional Names
| Name / Designation | Context |
|---|---|
| DMF | Universal industry abbreviation |
| DMFA | Eastern European / Russian literature |
| N,N-DMF | Clarifying abbreviation to avoid confusion with Drug Master File |
| Dimethyl Formamide (spacing variant) | Common in commercial documents |
| 二甲基甲酰胺 (Dimethyl Jiajianamine) | Chinese Mandarin name |
| Diméthylformamide | French |
| Dimethylformamid | German |
| Dimetilformamide | Italian / Spanish |
| ジメチルホルムアミド | Japanese |
| 디메틸포름아미드 | Korean |
⚠️ Compounds Frequently Confused with DMF
| Compound | CAS Number | Key Difference from DMF |
|---|---|---|
| DMF-DMA (Dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal) | 4637-24-5 | Acetal derivative; reactive C1 reagent; not a solvent |
| DMAc (N,N-Dimethylacetamide) | 127-19-5 | Higher MW (87.12); bp 165 °C; acetamide (not formamide); similar polarity; REACH CMR |
| NMP (N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone) | 872-50-4 | Cyclic amide; MW 99.13; bp 202 °C; REACH SVHC; often mentioned alongside DMF as alternative |
| Formamide (FA) | 75-12-7 | No N-methyl groups; bp 210 °C; protic (N–H); different polarity; different toxicity profile |
| DMF (Drug Master File) | N/A - document | Regulatory document - completely unrelated to the solvent; same abbreviation causes confusion in pharma context |
4 🔗 Structural Identifiers - SMILES, InChI & InChIKey
Machine-readable structural identifiers are essential for database searching, cheminformatics, and computational chemistry applications. The following standardized strings uniquely encode DMF's structure and can be used for exact structure searching in chemical databases.
Structural Identifiers for DMF (CAS 68-12-2)
SMILES (Simplified Molecular-Input Line-Entry System)
CN(C)C=O
Canonical SMILES. Reads: methyl–N(methyl)–C=O. Can also be written as: O=CN(C)C
Isomeric SMILES
CN(C)C=O
Same as canonical SMILES - DMF has no stereocenters
Standard InChI
InChI=1S/C3H7NO/c1-4(2)3-5/h3H,1-2H3
Standard IUPAC InChI string. Layers: formula / connections / hydrogen
InChIKey (hashed InChI for database search)
ZMXDDKWLCZADIW-UHFFFAOYSA-N
27-character fixed-length hash of the Standard InChI. Use this for Google Scholar searches, PubChem, ChemSpider to find DMF in databases without SMILES parsing.
💡 Using InChIKey for web searches: Paste ZMXDDKWLCZADIW-UHFFFAOYSA-N directly into Google, PubChem, or ChemSpider to retrieve DMF records. The InChIKey is more reliable than SMILES for database search because it is canonical (same regardless of how the SMILES was drawn) and URL-safe.
5 🗄️ Registry & Database Numbers - EC, EINECS, PubChem, ChemSpider
Each major chemical registry and database maintains its own unique identifier for DMF. The following table consolidates these numbers for quick cross-referencing.
| Registry / Database | Identifier for DMF | Usage / Authority |
|---|---|---|
| CAS Registry | 68-12-2 | American Chemical Society; global standard for substance identification |
| EC Number (EINECS) | 200-679-5 | European Commission; used in REACH registrations, SDS Section 1, EU regulatory filings |
| PubChem CID | 6228 | US National Library of Medicine / NCBI; free public database with structure, properties, bioactivity |
| ChemSpider ID | 5993 | Royal Society of Chemistry; structure search and spectroscopic data |
| ECHA Substance (SVHC) | EC 200-679-5 | European Chemicals Agency; REACH Candidate List (SVHC since 2011) and Annex XIV entry |
| RTECS Number | LQ2100000 | Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (NIOSH); toxicology reference |
| STDINCHIKEY | ZMXDDKWLCZADIW-UHFFFAOYSA-N | IUPAC standard; used in PubChem, ChemSpider, eMolecules, CrossRef searches |
| Reaxys / Beilstein | BRN 0506048 | Elsevier Reaxys database (formerly Beilstein); synthetic chemistry reference |
| NIST WebBook | C68122 | NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology); thermophysical and spectroscopic data |
6 🚢 Regulatory Identifiers - UN, ADR, HS Code & REACH
🚢 Transport Classification (Dangerous Goods)
| Identifier | Value |
|---|---|
| UN Number | UN 2265 |
| Proper Shipping Name | Dimethylformamide |
| Hazard Class | Class 3 - Flammable Liquid |
| Packing Group | Packing Group III |
| IATA DGR Class | Class 3, PG III (air transport) |
| IMDG (sea) | Class 3, PG III; MFAG 127 |
| ADR/RID (road/rail EU) | UN 2265, Class 3, III, (E) |
| ERG Guide Number | 129 (Flammable Liquid) |
🌐 Trade & Customs Identifiers
| System | Code |
|---|---|
| HS Code (Harmonized System) | 2924.19 |
| HS Description | Acyclic amides (including acyclic carbamates) and their derivatives - other |
| EU CN Code | 2924 19 00 |
| China HS Code | 2924190090 |
| US Schedule B | 2924.19.8090 |
🇪🇺 REACH Regulatory Status
| Status | Detail |
|---|---|
| SVHC Candidate List | Yes - since 2011 |
| REACH Annex XIV | Yes - Authorization required |
| SVHC Reason | Repr. Cat 1B (Art. 57c) |
7 ⚠️ GHS Classification & Labeling Summary
DMF is classified under the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) - adopted by most countries and mandatory for labeling on containers and Safety Data Sheets. The GHS classification is used in EU CLP regulation, UN GHS Rev. 9, and national implementations.
| GHS Hazard Classification (EU CLP / UN GHS Rev. 9) | |
|---|---|
| Flammable Liquid | Category 3 |
| Acute Toxicity (Oral) | Category 4 |
| Acute Toxicity (Dermal) | Category 4 |
| Acute Toxicity (Inhalation) | Category 4 |
| Skin Irritation | Category 2 |
| Eye Irritation | Category 2 |
| Reproductive Toxicity | Category 1B ⚠️ |
| STOT RE (Liver) | Category 1 |
| GHS Label Elements | |
|---|---|
| Signal Word | DANGER |
| Pictograms | Flame (GHS02) · Exclamation mark (GHS07) · Health hazard (GHS08) |
| H Statements | H226 (flammable liquid and vapour), H332 (harmful if inhaled), H312 (harmful in contact with skin), H302 (harmful if swallowed), H315 (skin irritation), H319 (eye irritation), H360D (may damage the unborn child), H373 (liver STOT RE) |
| P Statements (key) | P201 (obtain special instructions before use), P281 (use PPE as required), P260 (do not breathe vapours), P501 (dispose per regulations) |
⚠️ H360D is the critical classification - "May damage the unborn child" (reproductive toxicity Category 1B) is the classification that drives REACH SVHC listing and the most stringent workplace controls. This H statement must appear on all DMF labels and containers.
8 🌐 Major Chemical Database References
The following databases provide free authoritative data for DMF. Each record can be accessed by entering the CAS number 68-12-2 or the corresponding database ID listed below.
🔬 PubChem
National Library of Medicine (US). Free. CID 6228.
pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6228
Best for: structure, properties, patents, bioassay data
🏛️ ECHA CHEM
European Chemicals Agency. EC 200-679-5.
echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.000.617
Best for: REACH status, SVHC, Annex XIV
📊 NIST WebBook
National Institute of Standards. Thermophysical data.
webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=68-12-2
Best for: IR, MS spectra, thermochemical data
🧪 ChemSpider
Royal Society of Chemistry. CSid 5993.
chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.5993.html
Best for: NMR/IR spectra, predicted properties
⚕️ TOXNET / ChemIDplus
US National Library of Medicine. CAS 68-12-2.
chem.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/name/dmf
Best for: toxicology, TLVs, regulatory limits
🌿 ChemSRC / Sigma-Aldrich
Supplier database with specs. CAS 68-12-2.
sigmaaldrich.com - search CAS 68-12-2
Best for: commercial specs, SDS, pricing reference
9 ✅ How to Verify DMF Identity - Supplier Documentation Guide
When receiving DMF from a supplier, verifying identity through documentation and analytical testing is essential for quality assurance, GMP compliance, and regulatory responsibility. Use this checklist to systematically verify that the material received is indeed DMF (CAS 68-12-2) of the required grade.
📋 Document Checks
- COA states CAS 68-12-2
- COA states EC number 200-679-5
- Product name includes "dimethylformamide" or "DMF"
- Purity ≥ stated specification (≥99.5% industrial or ≥99.9% pharma)
- SDS signal word = "DANGER"
- SDS H-statements include H360D
- UN number on transport documents = UN 2265
- HS code on customs docs = 2924.19
🧪 Incoming Analytical Testing
- GC purity (minimum test) - confirm retention time matches DMF reference
- Refractive index nD²⁰ = 1.4295–1.4315
- Density (20 °C) = 0.943–0.945 g/mL
- Water content (KF) ≤ 0.05% industrial; ≤ 0.02% pharma
- Color (APHA) ≤ 10 industrial; ≤ 5 pharma
- Acidity ≤ 0.005% as formic acid
- For pharma grade: DMA content ≤ 1 ppm (GC-NPD)
🔬 Confirmatory Tests (if in doubt)
- ¹H NMR: singlet at δ 7.96 ppm (CHO) in CDCl₃
- IR: strong band at 1666 cm⁻¹ (C=O amide)
- GC-MS: m/z = 73 (M⁺ base peak), fragments at 44, 42
- Boiling point range 152–154 °C at 1 atm (distillation)
- Dielectric constant ≈ 37 (if conductimetric cell available)
✅ Sinolook Chemical documentation: All DMF shipments from Sinolook Chemical include a batch Certificate of Analysis explicitly stating CAS 68-12-2, EC 200-679-5, IUPAC name N,N-Dimethylformamide, and all specification test results. The COA is signed by our QC department and includes the batch number, test date, and instrument reference for each parameter.
10 ❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1 · What is the CAS number for DMF?
The CAS number for dimethylformamide (DMF) is 68-12-2. This is the globally accepted unique identifier for N,N-dimethylformamide, used in all regulatory documents, Safety Data Sheets, procurement specifications, and chemical databases worldwide. Always verify that the CAS number 68-12-2 appears on the Certificate of Analysis and SDS when purchasing or specifying DMF.
Q2 · What is the IUPAC name for DMF?
The IUPAC preferred name for DMF is N,N-Dimethylformamide. The name derives from formamide (HC(=O)–NH₂, the parent compound) with both nitrogen hydrogens replaced by methyl groups (N,N-dimethyl). An alternative systematic IUPAC name is N,N-dimethylmethanamide. In most chemistry literature, industry, and regulatory documents, the abbreviated form "DMF" or "N,N-dimethylformamide" is used interchangeably.
Q3 · What is DMF's molecular formula and molecular weight?
DMF's molecular formula is C₃H₇NO and its molecular weight is 73.09 g/mol (exact mass: 73.0528 Da). The formula accounts for three carbons (one formyl + two N-methyl), seven hydrogens, one nitrogen, and one oxygen. The molecular weight can be confirmed by mass spectrometry - the molecular ion M⁺• appears at m/z = 73, which is the base peak in the EI mass spectrum of DMF.
Q4 · What is DMF's EC number?
DMF's EC number (European Commission / EINECS number) is 200-679-5. The EC number is the identifier used in EU regulatory frameworks including REACH, CLP regulation, and SDS documentation. In ECHA's chemical database, DMF is listed at EC 200-679-5 as a SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) on the Candidate List since 2011, and is included in REACH Annex XIV (Authorization List).
Q5 · What is DMF's UN number for transport?
The UN number for dimethylformamide is UN 2265. DMF is classified as a Class 3 Flammable Liquid, Packing Group III under the UN Model Regulations. The proper shipping name is "Dimethylformamide." This UN number applies to transport by road (ADR), rail (RID), sea (IMDG), and air (IATA DGR). All shipping documents, labels, and placards for DMF shipments must reference UN 2265.
Q6 · What is the SMILES and InChIKey for DMF?
The canonical SMILES for DMF is CN(C)C=O (also written as O=CN(C)C). The Standard InChI is InChI=1S/C3H7NO/c1-4(2)3-5/h3H,1-2H3. The InChIKey - a 27-character fixed-length hash used for database searches - is ZMXDDKWLCZADIW-UHFFFAOYSA-N. Entering this InChIKey into PubChem, Google, or ChemSpider will retrieve the DMF record directly.
📚 Related Articles & Resources
📋 Request Fully Documented DMF (CAS 68-12-2) from Sinolook Chemical
Every Sinolook Chemical DMF shipment includes a batch COA explicitly stating CAS 68-12-2, EC 200-679-5, GHS-compliant SDS with H360D, REACH SVHC declaration, UN 2265 transport documentation, and HS code 2924.19 customs clearance support. Industrial and pharmaceutical grades available.
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