1. It is insoluble in water at room temperature, soluble in most organic solvents and hydrocarbons, and has good compatibility with most industrial resins. Dimethyl phthalate is combustible. When it catches fire, use water, foam extinguishing agent, carbon dioxide, powder extinguishing agent to extinguish the fire.
2. Chemical properties: It is stable to air and heat, and does not decompose when heated for 50 hours near the boiling point. When the vapor of dimethyl phthalate is passed through a 450°C heating furnace at a rate of 0.4g/min, only a small amount of decomposition occurs. The product is 4.6% water, 28.2% phthalic anhydride, and 51% neutral substances. The rest is formaldehyde. Under the same conditions, 36% at 608°C, 97% at 805°C, and 100% at 1000°C have pyrolysis.
3. When dimethyl phthalate is hydrolyzed in a methanol solution of caustic potassium at 30°C, 22.4% in 1 hour, 35.9% in 4 hours, and 43.8% in 8 hours are hydrolyzed.
4. Dimethyl phthalate reacts with methylmagnesium bromide in benzene, and when heated at room temperature or on a water bath, 1,2-bis(α-hydroxyisopropyl)benzene is formed. It reacts with phenyl magnesium bromide to generate 10,10-diphenylanthrone.
