The synthesis and isotopic analysis of CH₃¹⁸OH and CH₃¹⁷OH

Abstract

Abstract A number of methods of synthesis of methanol labelled with 18 O or with 17 O have been evaluated. The best method is considered to be the partial hydrolysis of trimethyl phosphate. Ethanol‐ 18 O can be prepared analogously by the partial hydrolysis of triethyl phosphate. The most accurate method for the isotopic analysis of oxygen in methanol is by pyrolysis in a specially designed vessel, the hydrogen being extracted through a palladium tube and the residual carbon monoxide analysed mass‐spectrometrically.