Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 25, 2026

Diisopropyl ether

Diisopropyl ether is a secondary ether that is used as a solvent. It is a colorless liquid that is slightly soluble in water, but miscible with organic solvents. It is also used as an oxygenate gasoline additive. It is obtained industrially as a byproduct in the production of isopropanol by hydration of propylene. Diisopropyl ether is sometimes represented by the abbreviation DIPE.

Last revised
Jul 25, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
747 w
Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Diisopropyl ether
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Names
Preferred IUPAC name
2-[(Propan-2-yl)oxy]propane
Other names
Isopropyl ether
2-Isopropoxypropane
Diisopropyl oxide
DIPE
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.003.237
EC Number
  • 203-560-6
RTECS number
  • TZ5425000
UNII
UN number 1159
  • InChI=1S/C6H14O/c1-5(2)7-6(3)4/h5-6H,1-4H3 checkY
    Key: ZAFNJMIOTHYJRJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C6H14O/c1-5(2)7-6(3)4/h5-6H,1-4H3
    Key: ZAFNJMIOTHYJRJ-UHFFFAOYAC
  • O(C(C)C)C(C)C
Properties
C6H14O
Molar mass 102.177 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless liquid
Odor Sharp, sweet, ether-like1
Density 0.725 g/ml
Melting point −60 °C (−76 °F; 213 K)
Boiling point 68.5 °C (155.3 °F; 341.6 K)
2 g/L at 20 °C
Vapor pressure 119 mmHg (20°C)1
−79.4·10−6 cm3/mol
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS02: FlammableGHS07: Exclamation markGHS08: Health hazard
Danger
H225, H316, H319, H335, H336, H361, H371, H412
P201, P202, P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P260, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P281, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P308+P313, P309+P311, P312, P332+P313, P337+P313, P370+P378, P403+P233, P403+P235, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 1: Exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury. E.g. turpentineFlammability 3: Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions. Flash point between 23 and 38 °C (73 and 100 °F). E.g. gasolineInstability 1: Normally stable, but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures. E.g. calciumSpecial hazards (white): no code
source ↗
1
3
1
Flash point −28 °C (−18 °F; 245 K)
443 °C (829 °F; 716 K)
Explosive limits 1.4–7.9%
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
8470 mg/kg (rat, oral)2
5000-6500 mg/kg (rabbit, oral)2
38,138 ppm (rat)
30,840 ppm (rabbit)
28,486 ppm (rabbit)2
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
 TWA 500 ppm (2100 mg/m3)1
REL (Recommended)
 TWA 500 ppm (2100 mg/m3)1
IDLH (Immediate danger)
 1400 ppm1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Diisopropyl ether is a secondary ether that is used as a solvent. It is a colorless liquid that is slightly soluble in water, but miscible with organic solvents. It is also used as an oxygenate gasoline additive. It is obtained industrially as a byproduct in the production of isopropanol by hydration of propylene.3 Diisopropyl ether is sometimes represented by the abbreviation DIPE.

Use as a solvent

Whereas at 20 °C, diethyl ether will dissolve 1% by weight water, diisopropyl ether dissolves 0.88%. Diisopropyl ether is used as a specialized solvent to remove or extract polar organic compounds from aqueous solutions, e.g. phenols, ethanol, acetic acid.

In the laboratory, diisopropyl ether is useful for recrystallizations because it has a wide liquid range.45 Diisopropyl ether is used for converting bromoboranes, which are thermally labile, into isopropoxy derivatives.6

Safety

Diisopropyl ether forms explosive organic peroxides similar to TATP upon standing in air. This reaction proceeds more easily than for diethyl ether due to the increased lability of the C-H bond adjacent to oxygen. Many explosions have been known to occur during handling of old diisopropyl ether bottles.7 Some laboratory procedures recommend use of freshly opened bottles.4 Antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene can be used to prevent this process. The stored solvent is generally tested for the presence of peroxides. It is recommended to test once every 3 months for diisopropyl ether compared to once every 12 months for diethyl ether.8 Peroxides may be removed by stirring the ether with an aqueous solution of iron(II) sulfate (green vitriol) or sodium metabisulfite.910 For safety reasons, methyl tert-butyl ether is often used as an alternative solvent.

See also

See also

References

References

  1. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0362". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  2. "Isopropyl ether". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
  3. Sakuth, Michael; Mensing, Thomas; Schuler, Joachim; Heitmann, Wilhelm; Strehlke, Günther; Mayer (2010). "Ethers, Aliphatic". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a10_023.pub2. ISBN 978-3-527-30673-2.
  4. Andrea Goti; Francesca Cardona; Gianluca Soldaini (2005). "Methyltrioxorhenium Catalyzed Oxidation of Secondary Amines to Nitrones: N-Benzylidene-Benzylamine N-Oxide". Organic Syntheses. 81: 204. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.081.0204.
  5. Ferenc Merényi, Martin Nilsson (1972). "2-Acetyl-1,3-Cyclopentanedione". Organic Syntheses. 52: 1. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.052.0001.
  6. Shoji Hara, Akira Suzuk (1998). "Synthesis of 4-(2-Bromo-2-Propenyl)-4-Methyl-Y-Butyrolactone by the Reaction of Ethyl Levulinate with (2-Bromoallyl)Diisopropoxyborane Prepared by Haloboration of Allene". Organic Syntheses. 75: 129. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.075.0129.
  7. Matyáš, Robert; Pachman, Jiří. (2013). Primary explosives. Berlin: Springer. p. 272. ISBN 978-3-642-28436-6. OCLC 832350093.
  8. "Organic Peroxides - Hazards : OSH Answers". www.ccohs.ca. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, Government of Canada.
  9. Chai, Christina Li Lin; Armarego, W. L. F. (2003). Purification of laboratory chemicals. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 176. ISBN 978-0-7506-7571-0.
  10. Hamstead, A. C. (1964). "Destroying Peroxides of Isopropyl Ether". Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. 56 (6): 37-42. doi:10.1021/ie50654a005.
External links