A polar aprotic solvent is a solvent that lacks an acidic proton and is polar. Such solvents lack hydroxyl and amine groups. In contrast to protic solvents, these solvents do not serve as proton donors in hydrogen bonding, although they can be proton acceptors. Many solvents, including chlorocarbons and hydrocarbons, are classifiable as aprotic, but polar aprotic solvents are of particular interest for their ability to dissolve salts. Methods for purification of common solvents are available.

SolventChemical formulaBoiling pointDielectric constantDensityDipole moment (D)Comment
Polar aprotic solvents
acetone(CH3)2CO56.1 °C21.80.785 g/cm32.91reacts with strong acids and bases, somewhat protic due to keto-enol equilibrium and the unavoidable presence of water due to aldol condensation
acetonitrileCH3CN82 °C38.30.776 g/cm33.20reacts with strong acids and bases
dichloromethaneCH2Cl239.6 °C9.081.327 g/cm31.6low boiling point
dimethylacetamide(CH3)2NCOCH3165 °C37.80.94 g/cm33.72reacts with strong acids and bases
dimethylformamide(CH3)2NCHO153 °C36.70.95 g/cm33.86reacts with strong acids and bases
N-methylpyrrolidoneCH3NCOC3H6203 °C32.31.028 g/cm34.09high boiling point
dimethylimidazolidone(CH3N)2COC2H4225 °C37.61.056 g/cm34.09high boiling point
dimethylpropyleneurea(CH3N)2COC3H6246.5 °C36.11.064 g/cm34.23high boiling point
dimethyl sulfoxide(CH3)2SO189 °C46.71.10 g/cm33.96reacts with strong bases, difficult to purify
ethyl acetateC2H5OCOCH377.1°C6.020.902 g/cm31.88reacts with strong bases
hexamethylphosphoramide[(CH3)2N]3PO232.5 °C29.61.03 g/cm35.38high boiling point, high toxicity
propylene carbonateCH3C2H3O2CO242 °C64.91.205 g/cm34.94high boiling point
pyridineC5H5N115 °C13.30.982 g/cm32.22reacts with protic and Lewis acids
sulfolaneC4H8SO2286 °C43.31.27 g/cm34.8high boiling point
tetrahydrofuranC4H8O66 °C7.60.887 g/cm31.75polymerizes in presence of strong protic and Lewis acids
  • Pfennig, A. (1995). . Chemie Ingenieur Technik. 67 (3): 352–353. doi:. ISSN.