N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane came into the chemistry spotlight during the expanding days of organosilicon chemistry in the mid-20th century. Scientists looking to engineer better water-repellent materials focused on silane compounds, and this one stood out quickly. The demand for stronger surface modifications led researchers at both academic and industrial labs to turn their attention to chlorosilanes with long hydrophobic tails, a search grounded in practical needs, not just curiosity. The introduction of this chemical marked a real shift, since it offered far better control over the formation of self-assembled monolayers. Its impact hit laboratories heavily invested in improving glassware, semiconductors, and analytical equipment, setting the stage for broader functionalization in surface science.
N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane, with its blend of a long hydrocarbon chain and reactive chlorosilane group, bridges the organic and inorganic worlds. The molecule combines hydrophobicity with chemical reactivity. Industry and research labs both grab this product for its value in surface modification, instrument calibration, and biomaterial research. It isn’t a household name, yet it regularly appears tucked into supply lists for professionals working in coatings, electronics, and microfluidics. The compound streams straight into applications that count on a thin, uniform, and robust chemical layer—especially in cases where you truly want to keep water away.
This compound boils between 120°C to 122°C at reduced pressure and, at room temperature, sits as a clear to pale yellowish liquid. Its hydrophobic tail offers strong water-repellent properties, a trait highly valued in self-assembled monolayer creation. The molecule weighs in at around 347 grams per mole, with a density hovering near 0.87 g/cm³. Solubility stays low in water due to both the hydrocarbon tail and hydrolyzable chlorines, which react violently in contact with moisture. Hydrolysis of the dichlorosilane group produces HCl gas—a warning to chemists everywhere. In air, the sharp, chemical odor signals the reactive nature of the chlorosilane group.
Suppliers typically ship N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane in amber glass bottles under nitrogen, with purity levels above 95%. Labels highlight its reactivity with moisture, so it shows up with Hazard communication codes for corrosivity and acute toxicity. Certificates of Analysis (COA) document water content below 0.5% and assay results by NMR or GC techniques. Beyond product labeling, material safety data sheets call out ventilation needs, glove requirements, and the benefits of proper storage—low temperature, dry, and oxygen-free environments. Without these steps, degradation or hydrolysis threatens product performance.
The standard production starts by reacting hexadecylmethylchlorosilane precursors with chlorinating agents like thionyl chloride or phosphorus pentachloride under anhydrous conditions. The reaction proceeds in inert organic solvents—like toluene or xylene, with temperatures rigorously controlled between 0°C and 50°C to protect against rapid decomposition. Afterwards, washing with sodium bicarbonate neutralizes residual acid traces, and vacuum distillation purifies the product for research or industrial use. Moisture exclusion not only ensures yield but protects workers, since even trace water launches fierce hydrolysis. The process benefits from carefully chosen glassware and dry-gas lines, routines common to those with experience in organosilicon chemistry.
N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane takes center stage in the assembly of monolayers on hydroxyl-rich surfaces—glass, silicon, alumina. On contact, the chlorosilane groups react with surface -OH sites to form robust Si-O bonds, liberating HCl as a byproduct. Scientists wishing to strengthen or tailor the resulting films often co-apply other organosilanes, creating mixed monolayers or adding specific side functionalities. Alkyl tail modifications extend the chemistry into custom phase materials or lubricants for micro-electromechanical systems. These reactions run under dry, inert gas, since uncontrolled exposure means sticky, cross-linked silicon polymers build up instead of ordered monolayers.
Search laboratory catalogs, and N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane might appear under several aliases: 1-Chlorohexadecyl(methyl)silane, Dichloro(methyl)hexadecylsilane, Methylhexadecylsilyl chloride, or simply HDMDS. Industry shortens long labels for convenience, but chemical naming still needs enough detail to avoid costly mix-ups. Chemists used to hunting for related products also encounter similar names like octadecyltrichlorosilane, but hexadecyl points squarely to the 16-carbon chain, which matters to anyone building molecular-scale coatings.
Experience with this compound teaches respect for both its volatility and reactivity. The release of hydrogen chloride gas on moisture contact brings risks to eyes, lungs, and skin. Laboratories and factories handling this chemical lean heavily on chemical fume hoods, goggles, heavy gloves, and strictly anhydrous techniques. Training covers not just personal protective equipment, but also spill control, neutralization, and emergency procedures. I’ve seen colleagues learn these lessons firsthand after accidental exposures led to corrosion of steel surfaces and minor burns. Transport regulations follow international rules for corrosive materials, and waste disposal routes the material through tightly controlled hazardous waste streams to prevent environmental contamination.
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed from N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane pave new ground in microelectronics and analytical chemistry. The hydrophobic surface it leaves on glass slides or silicon wafers resists fouling and stops unwanted biological or chemical adsorption, letting sensors run longer and cleaning effort drop way down. Lens, touchscreen, and photolithography mask coatings all draw value from its robust, low-energy surfaces. In microfluidics, modifying channels with this silane turns glass from water-loving to water-hating, making tiny droplets zip along without sticking. Research into oil–water separation even taps into this molecule’s capacity to block water while letting oil slip by. It serves as a sturdy foundation for further chemical attachments—in biosensors, drug delivery materials, and wear-resistant organic coatings that transform how people interact with touch surfaces.
The past decade brought a surge in investigation into longer-chain alkylsilanes, with N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane leading trials that probe durability, anti-fouling, and even anti-bacterial properties. Researchers digging into nanoscale coatings weigh in on the tradeoffs between tail length, film order, and resistance to chemical or physical breakdown. Grants and patents stack up for new devices and processes that depend on reliable, high-quality walls or channels lined by this silane. I’ve noticed a clear trend in journals—groups tweaking the molecule’s backbone, the head group, and processing conditions to create specialty materials that won’t peel or degrade, even in aggressive environments such as marine coatings or biomedical implants.
Direct skin, eye, or inhalation contact causes local irritation or burns, mostly from the acidic hydrolysis product hydrogen chloride. Rodent studies and occupational health reports share a consistent message—handle with care and keep lungs well away. Chronic exposure risks linger if poor ventilation or inadequate personal protection becomes a habit. Environmental fate data indicate hydrolysis products degrade in soil or water, but risks to aquatic organisms arise from exposure to both hydrochloric acid and siloxane breakdown products. Long-term epidemiological studies remain limited, pressing researchers to focus on limiting exposure, monitoring air quality, and never skipping gloves, goggles, or fume hood use.
N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane will keep pulling in attention from both fundamental and applied science. New directions already point toward sustainable synthesis routes, reducing reliance on aggressive chlorinating agents or developing non-toxic alternatives for surface cross-linking. Microelectronics and medical diagnostic devices demand ever purer, ultra-thin functional coatings, pushing manufacturers to improve production quality and shelf stability. In the energy field, next-generation battery and solar cell designs look for new ways to tune surface energy, drawing inspiration from this compound’s proven abilities. Education, ongoing monitoring, and safer handling protocols must grow alongside market expansion, since future use crosses boundaries between cleanroom labs, large-scale factories, and even field applications for environmental monitoring tools. People working with this compound blend deep respect with practical ingenuity, connecting today's surface chemistry to the next generation of smart, adaptive, and resilient materials.
Plenty of folks outside the lab have never heard of N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane, but for anyone who’s done some time coating slides or working with microfluidics, this chemical comes up more than you’d expect. Whether you’re in academic research, electronics, or medicine, treating glass to control its properties can make or break your next experiment.
This isn’t just another lab supply. N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane changes how surfaces behave. At its core, it’s all about making things hydrophobic. That’s a fancy way of saying, “Water, stay away.” If you’ve ever struggled to keep liquids from spreading all over a glass slide, you get why this matters. Treat a glass surface with this silane, and suddenly droplets ball up instead of flattening out. It keeps microfluidic devices running smoothly by keeping liquid in place, which matters a ton for diagnostics or lab-on-chip tech.
Researchers in biochemistry and cell biology lean on this stuff to control how proteins and cells stick—or don’t stick—to their slides. It’s tough running assays when everything you add just soaks in or spreads out, blurring results. I’ve watched a basic silane treatment save hours of prep and make imaging clean and clear. Without that, data gets messy, experiments fail, and costs run up fast.
What’s really special here comes down to the silane group’s two reactive chlorine atoms. On contact with a glass surface, they anchor the long hydrocarbon chain, giving the treated glass that signature slick, water-repellent quality. It’s the same logic behind everyday stuff like water-repellent clothes or car windshields, only a lot more precise. The long carbon chain ensures water has a hard time sticking around, which is exactly what engineers want for specific device coatings.
Not everything is sunshine and rainbows. Anyone who has prepped slides knows that working with silanes, especially this one, means proper PPE. Its chlorinated pieces can irritate skin and lungs, so fume hoods become a must. Disposing of silane byproducts brings in stricter discipline about chemical hazards and waste streams. Environmental groups have raised flags at various points since the persistence of organochlorides complicates cleanup.
This chemical isn’t locked away in research labs. It pops up in microelectronics, waterproof coatings, and sometimes even in consumer products. For me, seeing the impact beyond science is a reminder: The molecules we treat with care in the lab can end up driving advances in consumer tech or healthcare. Clean electronics, precise diagnostic kits, even anti-fogging screens often depend on surface tricks like those made possible with N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane.
More labs are thinking beyond performance and reaching for safer or more environmentally friendly alternatives. Some are testing silanization with less hazardous byproducts. Investment in greener chemistry matters—not just for cleaner labs, but for communities downstream. If enough researchers and companies push suppliers, safer options will move from “nice to have” to standard.
Every time a new surface treatment works as planned, it knocks down barriers for better science or better gadgets. N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane has opened doors for decades. As we learn more, the focus isn’t just on what the chemical can do, but on how to use that power wisely—with an eye toward safety, sustainability, and broader impact outside laboratory walls.
N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane doesn’t show up in casual chemistry—it usually lands in research labs, specialty coatings, and advanced manufacturing. This organosilicon compound reacts fiercely with moisture and gives off toxic hydrogen chloride gas. My first close-up with it happened under the watchful eyes of a senior chemist who’d learned the hard way about shortcuts. I picked up early that mistakes are expensive—not just in ruined batches, but in injuries and legal trouble.
This stuff calls for a dedicated spot away from other volatile chemicals. Water vapor turns it dangerous fast, so the usual practice is keeping the container hermetically sealed, ideally in a desiccator or a dry, inert environment such as a nitrogen-blanketed cabinet. I remember a rookie once storing a similar silane on a shelf next to acids. A week later, the cleanup team spent the afternoon in hazmat gear. That memory sticks.
Glass or high-quality plastic bottles with airtight lids do best. Labels must stay visible and updated. You won’t find N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane on the open bench or by a window. Light speeds up breakdown and could trigger small leaks, so a dark, temperature-stable cabinet works best. I’ve watched folks use silica gel packs or molecular sieves in the storage container to squeeze out every last trace of moisture. Small details—fresh packs, no cracked lids—keep trouble away.
Opening a bottle can bring clouds of gas. Handling goes beyond gloves and goggles—it means using a fume hood every single time. I once saw someone try to weigh silane outside the hood just this once for convenience, thinking gloves and a mask would be enough. Ten minutes later, the lab stank of acid, and that batch never finished. Good labs keep spill kits within arm's reach and make sure everyone knows the emergency drill.
If a spill happens, absorbents designed for acids do the heavy lifting. Water won’t help and can make things worse. Pouring waste into general bins invites contamination. Chemists sort waste into clearly marked containers, sending it off for specialized disposal. Routine checks on equipment, gloves, and eye protection make sense. Tear or crack in your gloves? Change them now. Plus, handwashing never goes out of style.
People forget how often little habits beat high-tech solutions. I’ve trained newcomers to double-check the bottle seal before leaving storage, to avoid distractions in the hood, and to log the temperature in the storage record. Automated sensors for leaks give extra insurance, but people still play the biggest role. Regular training gets everyone on the same page, even seasoned chemists who think they’ve seen it all.
Institutions get in front of accidents by investing in real training. Walkthroughs, practice drills, and open conversations about what works and what doesn’t build a safer culture. The best research doesn’t happen in chaos. N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane rewards careful, old-fashioned discipline, not shortcuts or wishful thinking.
Walking through any research lab, you’re bound to see vials and bottles of strange-sounding stuff. N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane may not roll off the tongue, but chemists and engineers reach for it, especially in electronics, coatings, and nanotechnology. The trouble is, many don’t know what happens when a few drops escape the flask or linger on a benchtop.
I remember prepping a glass surface for a project involving hydrophobic coatings. Goggles on, gloves up—I didn’t take a deep breath near the chemical, and it turns out that wasn’t just paranoia. N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane reacts sharply with water, unleashing hydrochloric acid right there on your skin or in your lungs. Even a whiff in the air, especially in a poorly ventilated space, can make your nose and throat burn. Splashing it on skin leads to redness, itching, and sometimes blisters. Sometimes there’s a delay before these symptoms show up, which means by the time you notice, you’re already well into a bad situation.
Inhaling vapors from this chemical doesn’t help your lungs, either. Some people start coughing, others get tightness in the chest, and labs without proper airflow turn into risky places fast. If someone spills a bit and doesn’t clean it up with care, nearby folks might breathe in not just the chemical itself but also the nasty byproducts it creates in the air. Accidents in industrial settings draw a straight line to burns, headaches, and long-term respiratory issues.
Splashes to the eye are no joke—expect pain and temporary vision problems. Rinsing eyes straight away sometimes isn’t enough, and permanent damage can happen if help is slow. On top of that, rinsing tools or containers into the sink puts the waste into water systems. Local water treatment plants can’t handle these types of compounds very well, and there’s talk in environmental reports about aquatic toxicity linked to silanes.
Anyone working around this chemical needs more than gloves—they need real training. It goes beyond reciting from safety data sheets. Folks should know why proper storage matters, like keeping it away from moisture and acids. Labs should rely on fume hoods, sealed containers, and face shields, plus spill kits designed to deal with harsh corrosives. Signs on shelves and doors aren’t enough; regular drills and open conversations about close calls teach much more.
From a public health angle, local authorities and companies need to monitor use and storage in neighborhoods near factories. There’s also a strong argument for research into alternatives with less severe health effects. Chemists aren’t short on imagination, and safer coatings technology could open doors nobody’s thought of yet.
I’ve watched too many beginners shrug off hazard warnings, thinking gloves and goggles make them invincible. Accidents with reactive chemicals don’t forgive overconfidence. Every open container or pipette transfer is a reminder that real risks require respect—and the right preparation. N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane offers up its own warnings, if you’re willing to listen.
N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane doesn’t give room for error. This stuff reacts with water so fast it creates corrosive hydrochloric acid. In high school chemistry, I remember a teacher burning a hole through his glove with something milder than this silane. Stories like these get passed down for a reason: folks who treat chemicals lightly regret it fast.
In places like research labs and manufacturing plants, staff face the temptation to empty waste containers down the drain. Yet, when silanes meet water, they release clouds of acidic fumes and coat plumbing with sticky residues. Residential pipes and even municipal treatment systems aren’t built for this kind of chemical abuse. If this compound ever reached a local stream, the environmental mess would stick around too.
Reports from chemical spills highlight burnt vegetation and scarred aquatic life after improper discharge of halogenated silanes. Checking the training materials from the American Chemical Society, you see the same instruction repeated: never pour chlorosilanes into public sewers or toss their containers in regular trash. I’ve studied a few accident case reports myself. Cleanup sometimes drags for weeks, with folks in hazmat suits digging up affected soil. That kind of headline sticks with you.
Storing leftover silane takes priority. Factory workers and lab technicians use tightly sealed bottles made of glass or compatible plastic. Everything’s marked clearly. Leaks don’t get a chance to form a crust at the lid or drip onto shelves. I always made sure to stash chemicals like this in ventilated cabinets with spill trays, away from fire or heat.
Labeling keeps everyone on the same page. “DANGEROUS—Reacts with Water” tape goes on the front. This step seems simple, yet skipping it invites confusion and accidents—particularly in shared workspaces. Before transferring for disposal, folks check container integrity personally.
Instead of improvising, call in chemical waste handlers. Hazardous waste contractors regularly collect and neutralize dangerous substances. Real pros show up wearing the right gloves and goggles, carting off containers for destruction in compliance with laws.
The Environmental Protection Agency mandates incineration at permitted facilities for chemicals like N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane. These places reach high enough temperatures to break down toxic byproducts. Watching a pro outfit at work taught me the value of good training: not only are they quick and methodical, they keep detailed logs. That recordkeeping matters for audits but also for community trust.
Hazardous waste management isn’t just a rule—it’s an ethic. I’ve worked in labs where everyone keeps an eye out for unlabeled bottles or poor storage. Positive peer pressure helps. Employers back this with regular training, including drills for accidental spills or exposures.
Universities and companies now push for regular reviews of storage areas and perform surprise inspections. None of these steps bring in extra revenue, but the cost of a chemical release—both in fines and injured people—far outweighs a single day of training.
Institutions still using N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane can't ignore its risks. They rely on clear internal policies and treat hazardous chemical disposal as part of daily operations. Giving staff the right knowledge, strict supervision, and easy access to professional disposal services keeps everyone healthier—inside the facility and out in the wider world.
N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane, often abbreviated as HDMS, stands as a key compound in the landscape of organosilanes. The structure can be described simply: it’s a silicon atom bonded to a methyl group, two chlorine atoms, and a long, straight hexadecyl chain. Its structure, C16H33Si(CH3)Cl2, mixes the hydrophobic nature of a fatty alkyl tail with the reactivity of silane chlorides. This unique blend creates value and brings both opportunity and caution to those handling or using the material.
Long carbon chains make materials stubbornly water-repellent. The dichlorosilane head has a job to do in surface chemistry. The two chlorines are eager to react with hydroxyl groups found on glass or silica, forming tight siloxane bonds and leaving surfaces slick and water-shedding. My encounters in the laboratory bear out just how aggressive this compound behaves. Add a drop of water, and you’ll see fumes and heat. Laboratories usually keep HDMS under dry inert gas, using glassware that’s bone-dry from hours in a drying oven.
For this molecule, purity means everything. Most reliable suppliers list purity above 97%—often 98% or better. Lesser material throws a wrench into any chemical reaction. I’ve faced more than one failed surface modification project due to old, hydrolyzed silane. Trace impurities, usually HCl or unreacted silanes, eat into performance or trigger unwanted side reactions. Verifying purity isn’t just paperwork—it takes real sample testing. Gas chromatography and NMR analysis both tell the story, with suppliers offering full reports if pressed. For surface modification or advanced coatings, even tiny byproducts such as silanols lead to incomplete attachment and uneven coverage down the line.
Anyone who’s opened a bottle of HDMS knows the sharp, irritating odor. Chlorosilanes like this burn both skin and lungs. Hydrolysis leaves you with hydrochloric acid—so working in a fume hood and wearing the right gloves means the difference between a smooth job and a trip to occupational health. No matter how pure the source, mishandling cancels out all its benefits. I’ve seen the damage from careless storage: crusted bottles, yellowed liquids, useless for precision chemistry.
Delivering consistent quality means more than just sourcing certified material. Close storage practices, proper handling, and fresh stock are the cornerstones for anyone using HDMS. Suppliers that invest in robust analytical testing (NMR, IR, mass spectrometry) help labs avoid downtime and disappointment. Laboratories and manufacturing sites need protocols that treat organochlorosilanes with respect; training lowers risk, and accountability keeps standards strong. Open communication with suppliers on shelf-life, degradation, and test results strengthens confidence up and down the process chain.
Strong relationships depend on more than certificates. Sharing batch analysis results, offering support on safe use, and listening to user feedback go further for both safety and scientific outcomes. After years of working with silanes in coatings research, this approach keeps projects on track and teams healthy. N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane’s impact isn’t just in its chemical structure—it comes from the hands and habits of those who use it every day.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | N-hexadecyl(dimethyl)chlorosilane |
| Other names |
Dichloro(methyl)hexadecylsilane Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane n-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane Dichloro(hexadecyl)methylsilane |
| Pronunciation | /ɛn-hek.səˈdiː.sɪlˌmɛθ.əl.daɪˈklɔːr.oʊ.saɪˌleɪn/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 18794-58-4 |
| Beilstein Reference | 1718735 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:88706 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1906757 |
| ChemSpider | 2283071 |
| DrugBank | DB11284 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 19e218c7-b0d1-401f-81a6-c1a8f9492b45 |
| EC Number | 208-762-3 |
| Gmelin Reference | 82292 |
| KEGG | C19134 |
| MeSH | D015575 |
| PubChem CID | 87174 |
| RTECS number | VP2300000 |
| UNII | X2EVH3ES7B |
| UN number | UN2810 |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | DJX6EM4R57 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C17H38Cl2Si |
| Molar mass | 351.38 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless to light yellow transparent liquid |
| Odor | Characteristic |
| Density | 0.892 g/mL at 25 °C |
| Solubility in water | Insoluble |
| log P | 10.7 |
| Vapor pressure | <1 mm Hg (20 °C) |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -7.3e-6 cm³/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.4480 |
| Viscosity | 3 mm2/s (25 °C) |
| Dipole moment | 2.53 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 677.1 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -427.7 kJ·mol⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -9779.7 kJ/mol |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | V09AX01 |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS05, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | GHS05,GHS07 |
| Signal word | Danger |
| Hazard statements | H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
| Precautionary statements | P260, P262, P280, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P305+P351+P338, P310, P321, P363 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 2-3-1 |
| Flash point | 98 °C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD₅₀ (oral, rat): 6,700 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): Oral rat LD50 > 5,000 mg/kg |
| NIOSH | STY8300000 |
| PEL (Permissible) | PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) for N-Hexadecylmethyldichlorosilane: Not established |
| REL (Recommended) | 0.5 ppm |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | Unknown |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
n-Hexadecyltrichlorosilane n-Hexadecyltrimethoxysilane n-Hexadecyltriethoxysilane Octadecylmethyldichlorosilane n-Decylmethyldichlorosilane |
