Editing Formate (section)

==Formate esters==
Formate esters have the formula HCOOR (alternative way of writing formula ROC(O)H or RO<sub>2</sub>CH).  Many form spontaneously when alcohols dissolve in formic acid.  

The most important formate ester is methyl formate, which is produced as an intermediate en route to [[formic acid]].  [[Methanol]] and [[carbon monoxide]] react in the presence of a strong base, such as [[sodium methoxide]]:<ref name=Ullmann_2009/>
:{{chem2|CH3OH  +  CO -> HCOOCH3}}
Hydrolysis of methyl formate gives formic acid and regenerates methanol:
:{{chem2|HCOOCH3  ->   HCOOH  +  CH3OH}}
In laboratory, formate esters can be used to produce pure carbon monoxide.<ref>{{cite journal
 | last1 = Imberdis
 | first1 = Arnaud
 | last2 = Lefèvre
 | first2 = Guillaume
 | last3 = Cantat
 | first3 = Thibault
 | title = Transition-Metal-Free Acceptorless Decarbonylation of Formic Acid Enabled by a Liquid Chemical-Looping Strategy
 | journal = Angewandte Chemie International Edition
 | volume = 58
 | issue = 48
 | year = 2019
 | pages = 17215–17219
 | doi = 10.1002/anie.201909039
}}</ref> Formic acid is used for many applications in industry. 

Formate esters often are fragrant or have distinctive odors.  Compared to the more common acetate esters, formate esters are less commonly used commercially because they are less stable.<ref>{{citation | doi = 10.1002/14356007.t11_t01 | chapter = Flavors and Fragrances, 2. Aliphatic Compounds | title = Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry | date = 2015 | last1 = Panten | first1 = Johannes | last2 = Surburg | first2 = Horst | pages = 1–55 | isbn = 978-3-527-30673-2 }}</ref>  Ethyl formate is found in some confectionaries.<ref name=Ullmann_2009/>