Solvent · polar aprotic
N,N-Dimethylformamide C3H7NO
Also: DMF
Strong polar aprotic solvent used in HPLC/GC to dissolve difficult samples and polymers; common mobile phase / eluent for GPC-SEC (polymer characterization); sample diluent and dissolution medium (e.g., USP <467> Class 2 standard stock preparation). High 268 nm UV cutoff and high refractive index limit its use as a mobile phase for low-UV or RI detection; high boiling point (153 C) suits it as a GC sample solvent.
Compiled by Hemant RawatLast reviewed July 2026How we verify
Properties
- Formula
- C3H7NO
- CAS number
- 68-12-2
- UV cutoff
- 268 nm
- Snyder polarity index (P′)
- 6.4
- Selectivity group
- III
- Eluotropic strength ε° (silica)
- —
- Boiling point
- 153 °C
- Viscosity (25 °C)
- 0.92 cP
- Refractive index (nD²⁰)
- 1.4305
- Density
- 0.944 g/mL
- Water miscibility
- miscible
- USP <467> class
- Class 2
Safety
- flammable
- reprotoxic (H360D - may damage the unborn child)
- toxic/harmful by inhalation and skin contact
- hepatotoxic
- eye/skin irritant
Reference only. Solvents can be flammable, toxic, or peroxide-forming. Always consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and your lab's protocols before handling.
What N,N-Dimethylformamide mixes with
Miscible with: 1-Propanol, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,4-Dioxane, 2-Propanol, Acetic acid, Acetone, Acetonitrile, Benzene, Carbon tetrachloride, Chloroform, Dichloromethane, Diethyl ether, Dimethyl sulfoxide, Ethanol, Ethyl acetate, Methanol, Methyl ethyl ketone, Methyl isobutyl ketone, MTBE, n-Butanol, n-Butyl acetate, N-Methylpyrrolidone, N,N-Dimethylacetamide, Pyridine, tert-Butanol, Tetrahydrofuran, Toluene, Triethylamine, Water.
Partially miscible with: Cyclohexane, Iso-octane, n-Heptane, n-Hexane, n-Pentane — mix only over a limited range.
Check any specific pair on the interactive miscibility chart.
Using N,N-Dimethylformamide in HPLC/GC
Strong polar aprotic solvent used in HPLC/GC to dissolve difficult samples and polymers; common mobile phase / eluent for GPC-SEC (polymer characterization); sample diluent and dissolution medium (e.g., USP <467> Class 2 standard stock preparation). High 268 nm UV cutoff and high refractive index limit its use as a mobile phase for low-UV or RI detection; high boiling point (153 C) suits it as a GC sample solvent.
Its Snyder polarity index is 6.4 (selectivity group III), and its UV cutoff of 268 nm limits low-wavelength UV detection.See what the polarity index means and the full UV cutoff table.
Sources
- University of Toronto (TRACES) — Burdick & Jackson — Solvent UV cutoff table (absorbance = 1 AU, 1 cm cell)
- Stenutz / L. R. Snyder — Solvent polarity index (P′) and selectivity groups
- NIST — Chemistry WebBook — thermophysical properties (BP, density, refractive index)
- PubChem (NIH/NLM) — Compound property records (physical constants, CAS, formula)
- USP <467> / ICH Q3C — Residual Solvents — solvent classification (Class 1/2/3)
Values are compiled from public references and were last verified July 2026. See ourmethodologyfor how we source and verify. Always confirm critical values against primary references and the SDS.
Related solvents
Other selectivity group III to compare with N,N-Dimethylformamide.