Furan
Description
Furan (CAS 110-00-9), also known as furfurane or tetrole, is a five-membered oxygen-containing heterocyclic compound used as a reactive building block and solvent in chemical synthesis.
Its primary commercial role is as a precursor and intermediate in the production of specialty polymers and pharmaceutical compounds. In polymer chemistry, it serves as a monomer in Diels-Alder-based systems.
This enables the production of thermally reversible resins and bio-based plastics with controlled crosslinking behavior. Pharmaceutical manufacturers use it as a synthetic intermediate in the construction of drug scaffolds.
Its ring structure is frequently incorporated into active pharmaceutical ingredients. As a low-boiling solvent, it is employed in laboratory-scale and pilot-plant synthesis where rapid removal is a requirement.
Furan also functions as a starting material for producing tetrahydrofuran (THF) and other downstream derivatives used across solvent and polymer supply chains. It is supplied as a stabilized liquid.
The product is typically available in research-grade and technical-grade specifications. It is offered in packaging ranging from small laboratory quantities to bulk drum supply, depending on purity requirements.
Buyers should confirm stabilizer content and purity grade, commonly 99%+, when specifying for pharmaceutical or polymer synthesis applications to ensure consistent performance in sensitive reactions.
Physical Properties
| Melting Point | -85.6 °C |
| Boiling Point | 31.36 °C @ Press: 760 Torr |
| Density | 0.9371 g/cm³ @ Temp: 19.4 °C |
| Flash Point | 160 °F |
| Appearance | Furan is a colorless liquid; turns brown on standing. Strong ethereal odor. |
| Color | Clear colorless to yellow |
| Odor | at 0.10?%?in?propylene glycol. ethereal |
| Form | Liquid |
| Water Solubility | insoluble |
| Vapor Pressure | 1672 mm Hg ( 55 °C) |
| Refractive Index | n 20/D 1.5070(lit.) |
| Log P | 1.34 |
Safety & Handling (Learn More)
Trade & Regulatory
| HS Code | 2932 19 00 |
| UN Number | 2811 |
| ADR Class | 6.1 |
| Packing Group | II |
| Storage Class | 3 - Flammable liquids |
| WGK (Germany) | 3 |
Documentation
Other Names
tetrole|furfurane|furfuran|divinylene oxide|1,4-epoxy-1,3-butadiene|Oxole|Furane|Axole
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