I suspect that the statement is based on the degradation to dimethylamine and carbon monoxide in small quantities, a problem with time for high purity grade.  The amine is the issue in this case.  Typically, when using DMF as a solvent, organic researchers and process chemists will distill it to remove the amine.

The suggestion to contact ACROS is excellent.

Lee Latimer


On 8/4/15, 8:30 AM, "Margaret Rakas" <mrakas**At_Symbol_Here**SMITH.EDU> wrote:

If it's 'molecular biology grade'--whatever that is--sometimes they have use-by dates for reagents with this labeling. I've had buffered phenol and even ethanol that have been unopened but the molbio people see the 'expiration' date and hazwaste it...
good luck and let us know (you could also call Acros)--
Margaret

On Tue, Aug 4, 2015 at 11:25 AM, Stuart, Ralph <Ralph.Stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu> wrote:

During a lab inspection today, I noticed a bottle of extra pure Dimethylformamide in one of our labs that had a note on the manufacturers (Acros) label that says "use within 5 years of opening". A little Google searching doesn't seem to indicate the DMF is a peroxide former, so I wonder if anyone can shed some light on why this time limit is recommended?

The bottle was received in Jan 2011, so inquiring miles would like to know.

thanks for any insight on this.

- Ralph


Ralph Stuart CIH
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Keene State College
Keene, NH. 03431

ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu

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