Dibenzoyl-(-)-P-methoxy-L-tartaric acid comes in various solid forms such as flakes, powder, and crystalline substances that are usually white to off-white. In chemical development labs, it often turns up as a resolving agent, especially in chiral resolution processes for pharmaceutical and research use. Over years of working with different chemicals in the lab, it has become clear how essential the right compound is for making sure optical purity hits target ranges, which matters in synthesis work. The value rises for anyone needing a separating agent with precise molecular behavior and structure, proven to deliver consistent outcomes.
This compound’s chemical backbone features classic tartaric acid organization, but modified with two benzoyl groups and a methoxy. The structure reads as C20H16O8. One look at the molecular diagram and you can spot the chiral center right in the tartaric acid moiety, which explains its key function in chiral separations. Working with stereochemistry for a decade, it becomes second nature to scan for these features and gauge how the compound’s design may influence separation efficiency, solubility, or downstream processing. With a molecular weight landing at 384.34 g/mol, the molecule isn’t unwieldy, so its manipulation stays manageable in both pilot and scale-up work.
Dibenzoyl-(-)-P-methoxy-L-tartaric acid displays solid density, generally about 1.45 g/cm³, but slight variation appears depending on the supplier or available batch. Most samples show up as odorless, non-volatile materials, with melting points typically ranging from 147°C to 151°C. For folks in chemical handling and production, knowing flash point or thermal degradation data sometimes means the difference between clockwork synthesis and an afternoon spent cleaning up a failed reaction. Solubility leans toward organic solvents: acetone, ethanol, and DCM deliver the best results, but don’t expect much movement in water due to the benzoyl moieties. These characteristics fit standard organic acid handling, but with an added sharpness in purity impact for downstream chemical processes.
From my time working with raw material supply chains, a reliable chiral acid like this one simplifies stereochemistry projects. Its major draw rests in its navigation of enantiomeric excess: you combine a racemic base with this acid, form diastereomeric salts, and separate with ease. Pharmaceuticals, especially smaller research labs and process development divisions, list this acid as one of the basics. It fits into workflows as a resolving agent for amines and related compounds, often when commercial routes for optical separation hit a snag. The crystalline salts formed during these processes prove stable and easy to collect, letting synthetic chemists finish purification efforts with fewer headaches.
Producers offer the compound typically at assay values beyond 98%, expecting customers to perform their own checks on optical rotation for each package. Settling on the right grade means reviewing lot specifications for moisture, residual solvents, and solid-state appearance. The chemical ships and stores as a stable solid under dry, cool, and ventilated storage conditions, preferably inside tightly closed containers to dodge hydrolysis or contamination. In practice, no one wants to risk exposure to air or light; degradation over time, even if slow, can disrupt an entire production run.
International trade and shipping for Dibenzoyl-(-)-P-methoxy-L-tartaric acid usually fall under HS Code 2918.19, which covers carboxylic acids and derivatives. Buyers and handlers need to stay alert to local regulations for chemical storage, personal protective equipment, and disposal practices. The chemical doesn’t rank as acutely toxic, but like most organic acids, direct contact may cause mild skin irritation and shouldn’t go near mucous membranes. Years in research and industry teach respect for basic chemical hygiene: gloves, goggles, safe storage away from incompatible materials, and reliable labeling help muscle through work without safety scares.
People sometimes overlook risks from sounding ingredients like dibenzoyl derivatives, but carelessness can mean inhaling fine particulate or slipping up during weighing. The acid is not classed as hazardous under GHS unless inhalation, ingestion, or substantial exposure takes place, but that doesn’t replace standard PPE. Small spills and routine exposure should get washed down quickly with water, and dry scooping methods for solid materials keep dust down. The substance’s lack of volatility supports a safer work environment, but best practices always guide the actual routines in industrial or academic labs.
Sourcing Dibenzoyl-(-)-P-methoxy-L-tartaric acid involves suppliers familiar with critical reagents for pharmaceutical and fine chemical syntheses. Reliable sources often support direct documentation on batch history, purity tests, and supply chain provenance—attributes that grow in significance once regulatory scrutiny increases. Material origin, possible trace contaminants, and transport conditions play a role in the end-use quality for any customer, from drug manufacturers to small batch compounders. As someone who has chased defective batches back through their entire sourcing pipeline, the value of traceability and consistency can’t be overstated. That reliability removes hassles from building new formulations or scaling up reactions from bench-top to plant floor.
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