dimethylformamide

chemical compound

Also known as: DMF

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Last updated

July 21, 2026

Quick Summary

Dimethylformamide (DMF) is a liquid chemical compound with the formula HCON(CH₃)₂. It is primarily used as a solvent, particularly at higher temperatures, for dissolving certain polymeric materials in the production of synthetic fibers. The name itself indicates its composition: it is a derivative of formamide with two methyl groups attached.1

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Frances Arnold
…would work in the solvent dimethylformamide (DMF) instead of in the watery environment of a cell. She introduced many random mutations into the genetic code of bacteria that made subtilisin E, and she introduced her mutated enzymes into an environment that contained both DMF and casein. She selected the new…
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…would work in the solvent dimethylformamide (DMF) instead of in the watery environment of a cell. She introduced many random mutations into the genetic code of bacteria that made subtilisin E, and she introduced her mutated enzymes into an environment that contained both DMF and casein. She selected the new…
Read More