Sodium methyl isethionate is a chemical compound, sodium salt of propanesulphonic acid, anionic surfactant.

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na (from the Latin "Natrium") and the atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal.
• Methyl refers to a functional group derived from methane (CH4). It consists of a carbon atom bound to three hydrogen atoms. Methyl groups are common in organic chemistry and can affect the properties of the compound.
• Isethionate is a type of sulfonic acid ester. Sulfonic acid esters are organic compounds that contain a -SO3H group, and in this case, it is attached to a backbone of isethionic acid. Isethionates are often used in personal care products for their cleansing and surfactant properties.

The synthesis process takes place in different steps:

• Preparation of Methyl Isethionate synthesized with a reaction between isethionic acid with methanol in the presence of a catalyst such as sulfuric acid.
• Neutralization. Methyl isethionate is neutralized with a base such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to form the sodium salt, Sodium methyl isethionate.

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

Used in shampoos, liquid soaps, bano products as a foaming surfactant with easy rinsing, good cleansing properties, weak degreasing and long lasting moisturising effect.

Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and are used to soothe or soften the skin and emulsify, so they need a specific, stabilising ingredient. This ingredient forms a film, lowers the surface tension and makes two immiscible liquids miscible. A very important factor affecting the stability of the emulsion is the amount of the emulsifying agent. Emulsifiers have the property of reducing the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improving the stability of the emulsion and also directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating the filmometric performance.

• Molecular Formula  C₃H₇NaO₄S
• Molecular Weight     162.14
• CAS  869737-84-8
• UNII     IOW368554X
• EC Number   
• DSSTox Substance ID  
• IUPAC  sodium;(2S)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate
• InChI=1S/C3H8O4S.Na/c1-3(4)2-8(5,6)7;/h3-4H,2H2,1H3,(H,5,6,7);/q;+1/p-1/t3-;/m0./s1  
• InChl Key   UNXCZDNUXJJWHY-DFWYDOINSA-M
• SMILES   CC(CS(=O)(=O)[O-])O.[Na+]
• MDL number  
• PubChem Substance ID      

Synonyms

• sodium;(2S)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate
• Propanesulfonic acid, 1(or 2)-hydroxy-, sodium salt (1:1)