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Dimethyl sulfate
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<p>Dimethyl sulfate (DMS) is a <a href="/facts/Chemical_compound/37FXqqtv">chemical compound</a> with <a href="/facts/Chemical_formula/hghUtthl">formula</a> (CH3O)2SO2. As the <a href="/facts/Ester/FoUAIIw4">diester</a> of <a href="/facts/Methanol/EIfpoNCg">methanol</a> and <a href="/facts/Sulfuric_acid/Wom6fymJ">sulfuric acid</a>, its formula is often written as (<a href="/facts/Methyl/fkM97EMD">CH3</a>)2<a href="/facts/Sulfate/yuWVxsUf">SO4</a> or Me2SO4, where CH3 or Me is <a href="/facts/Methyl/fkM97EMD">methyl</a>. Me2SO4 is mainly used as a methylating agent in <a href="/facts/Organic_synthesis/aprl6Iq7">organic synthesis</a>. Me2SO4 is a colourless oily <a href="/facts/Liquid/t9GkLWzt">liquid</a> with a slight onion-like odour. Like all strong <a href="/facts/Alkylating_agent/1rd5SNbt">alkylating agents</a>, Me2SO4 is <a href="/facts/Toxic/qa96rs60">toxic</a>. Its use as a laboratory reagent has been superseded to some extent by <a href="/facts/Methyl_triflate/UEtL9wqD">methyl triflate</a>, CF3SO3CH3, the methyl ester of <a href="/facts/Trifluoromethanesulfonic_acid/NmKSuzxV">trifluoromethanesulfonic acid</a>. </p>