Tetraethyleneglycol monododecyl ether
[CAS 5274-68-0]

Identification

• Classification: Catalysts and additives >> Polyethylene glycol derivative
• Name: Tetraethyleneglycol monododecyl ether
• Synonyms: 2-[2-[2-(2-dodecoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy]ethanol
• Molecular Formula: C₂₀H₄₂O₅
• Molecular Weight: 362.54
• CAS Registry Number: 5274-68-0
• EC Number: 226-097-1
• SMILES: CCCCCCCCCCCCOCCOCCOCCOCCO

Properties

• Density: 0.9±0.1 g/cm³ Calc.^*, 0.946 g/mL (Expl.)
• Melting point: 35 - 40 °C (Expl.)
• Boiling point: 450.3±30.0 °C 760 mmHg (Calc.)^*
• Flash point: 226.1±24.6 °C (Calc.)^*, 20 °C (Expl.)
• Index of refraction: 1.453 (Calc.)^*, 1.453 (Expl.)

^* Calculated using Advanced Chemistry Development (ACD/Labs) Software.

Safety Data

• Hazard Symbols: GHS07;GHS09 Warning
• Risk Statements: H315-H319-H335-H400-H410
• Safety Statements: P261-P264-P264+P265-P271-P273-P280-P302+P352-P304+P340-P305+P351+P338-P319-P321-P332+P317-P337+P317-P362+P364-P391-P403+P233-P405-P501

Hazard Classification

Hazard	Class	Category Code	Hazard Statement
Eye irritation	Eye Irrit.	2	H319
Skin irritation	Skin Irrit.	2	H315
Acute hazardous to the aquatic environment	Aquatic Acute	1	H400
Chronic hazardous to the aquatic environment	Aquatic Chronic	1	H410
Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure	STOT SE	3	H335
Serious eye damage	Eye Dam.	1	H318
Acute toxicity	Acute Tox.	4	H302
Chronic hazardous to the aquatic environment	Aquatic Chronic	3	H412

• Transport Information: UN 3082

chemBlink Chemical Story

Tetraethylene glycol monododecyl ether, CAS 5274-68-0, is a nonionic surfactant also known as tetraethylene glycol monolauryl ether, polyoxyethylene(4) lauryl ether, or Laureth-4. NIST records the formula C20H42O5 and molecular weight 362.54. Its structure contains a twelve-carbon hydrophobic chain connected through oxygen to a short chain of four oxyethylene units ending in a hydroxyl group.

This architecture is the essence of a nonionic surfactant. The dodecyl chain prefers oil-like environments, while the ether oxygens and terminal hydroxyl interact favorably with water. When enough molecules are present in water, this competition can drive self-assembly into micelles and other interfacial structures. Unlike ionic surfactants, the hydrophilic head does not carry a permanent electrical charge.

The exact number of oxyethylene units matters. Increasing ethoxylation generally increases hydrophilicity and changes water solubility, cloud behavior, micelle formation and emulsification. CAS 5274-68-0 represents the defined tetraethylene-glycol ether, although commercial laureth materials can also be distributions of ethoxylation states. A discrete laboratory compound and an industrial ethoxylate mixture should therefore not automatically be treated as identical.

Such alkyl polyoxyethylene surfactants have long been used as model systems for studying nonionic micelles, phase behavior and interfaces. Their relatively simple architecture lets researchers vary alkyl-chain length and oxyethylene number independently, linking molecular structure to macroscopic properties such as critical micelle concentration and solubilization.

The same amphiphilic design is useful in formulations because surfactants help bring together materials that otherwise separate into water-rich and oil-rich phases. Depending on composition and concentration, related laureth materials can function as emulsifying, wetting or solubilizing ingredients.

CAS 5274-68-0 therefore illustrates how a molecule can be designed with two incompatible preferences and become useful precisely because of that conflict. One end seeks hydrocarbon-like surroundings, the other seeks water, and the molecule organizes itself at the boundary between them.

References:
1. NIST Chemistry WebBook, Tetraethylene glycol monododecyl ether, CAS 5274-68-0.
2. Rosen MJ, Kunjappu JT. Surfactants and Interfacial Phenomena. 4th ed. Wiley, 2012.
3. Tanford C. The Hydrophobic Effect. 2nd ed. Wiley, 1980.

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