2-Hydroxyethyl methyl terephthalate

2-Hydroxyethyl methyl terephthalate
Names
	Other names 1,4-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl methyl ester; mono(methyl terephthalate)ethylene glycol; terephthalic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl methyl ester; 1-(2-hydroxyethyl) 4-methyl benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate; methyl 2-hydroxyethyl terephthalate; monoglycol monomethyl terephthalate; β-Hydroxyethyl methyl terephthalate;
Identifiers
CAS Number	3645-00-9 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChemSpider	69636;
EC Number	222-877-0;
PubChem CID	77207;
UNII	QR42U3BY92;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID9063112 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C11H12O5/c1-15-10(13)8-2-4-9(5-3-8)11(14)16-7-6-12/h2-5,12H,6-7H2,1H3 Key: DJQMYWWZWUOCBQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N;
	SMILES COC(=O)C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(=O)OCCO;
Properties
Chemical formula	C11H12O5
Molar mass	224.212 g·mol−1
Appearance	white solid
Melting point	71 °C (160 °F; 344 K)
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

2-Hydroxyethyl methyl terephthalate is an organic compound with the formula HOCH₂CH₂O₂CC₆H₄CO₂CH₃. It is a mixed ester of terephthalic acid. This compound is an intermediate in the industrial production of polyethylene terephthalate (>80 Mtons/y) by the transesterification from dimethylterephthalate:

CH₃O₂CC₆H₄CO₂CH₃ + HOCH₂CH₂OH → HOCH₂CH₂O₂CC₆H₄CO₂CH₃ + CH₃OH

n HOCH₂CH₂O₂CC₆H₄CO₂CH₃ → (OCH₂CH₂O₂CC₆H₄CO)_n + n CH₃OH

The compound is also formed by the reverse of the above reaction, the methanolysis of PET.