DPDM - Dipropylene Glycol Dimethyl Ether

About This Product

Dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether, DPDM, is built on a two-unit propylene glycol backbone with methyl ether caps at both ends. It is a clear colourless liquid of low viscosity and high boiling point, supplied as an isomer mixture. Capping both ends removes every hydroxyl group, which makes the molecule aprotic. That matters in two situations. In reactive chemistry, an active hydrogen will react with organometallics, isocyanates and strong bases, so a fully capped ether can be used as a reaction medium where a mono-ether cannot. In coatings, the same absence of hydroxyl means the solvent cannot react with crosslinkers, and its low surface tension helps it wet difficult substrates. The propylene rather than ethylene backbone is significant here, because the corresponding ethylene glycol dimethyl ethers, monoglyme and diglyme, carry reproductive toxicity classifications in the EU, while the propylene analogues do not. DPDM is therefore specified as the lower-hazard aprotic option where a glyme would otherwise be used. It is used as an aprotic reaction solvent, in coatings and inks, in cleaning formulations and in absorption and extraction processes. Bio Green Chem supplies DPDM to specification on assay, water, peroxide value, acidity, colour and residue.