methanesulfonic acid

noun

meth·​ane·​sul·​fon·​ic acid ˌme-ˌthān-ˌsəl-ˈfä-nik- 

-ˈfō-

variants or methane sulfonic acid

chemistry

: a corrosive liquid acid CH₄O₃S that is used especially as a catalyst in chemical reactions (such as polymerization and esterification)

Methanesulfonic acid has been developed as an esterification catalyst in place of sulfuric acid for the synthesis of resins in paints and coatings.

—Stanley E. Manahan, Toxicological Chemistry and Biochemistry, 2003

The mesylate salt is obtained by reaction with methanesulfonic acid.

—Anna M. Wodlinger, Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 2005

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

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