Magic methyl
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Methyl fluorosulfonate
IUPAC name	Methyl fluorosulfonate
Other names	Methyl fluorosulphonate; fluorosulfonic acid, methyl ester; methyl fluorosulphate
Identifiers
CAS number	[421-20-5]
Properties
Molecular formula	CH3O3FS
Molar mass	114.09 g/mol
Density	1.45 g/mL
Boiling point	93 °C
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox references

Methyl fluorosulfonate, (also known as magic methyl, a name coined by George Olah) has the chemical formula F-SO₂-OCH₃. It is used as a powerful (about four orders of magnitude more reactive than methyl iodide) methylating reagent.

Methyl fluorosulfonate is prepared by distillation from an equimolar mixture of fluorosulfonic acid and dimethyl sulfate.

The compound is acutely toxic (LC50 (rat) ~ 5 ppm), causing irritation of the respiratory tract and pulmonary edema, presumably through alkylation of lipids in the cell membranes.^[1]

References

1. ^ Hite, M.; Rinehart, W.; Braun, W.; Peck, H. (1979). "Acute toxicity of methyl fluorosulfonate (Magic Methyl)". AIHA Journal 40 (7): 600–603. doi:10.1080/00028897708984416. PMID 484483.