Triethyl orthoformate
![Structural formula](/Images/godic/202502/17/Triethoxymethane.svg3919.png")
![Ball-and-stick model](/Images/godic/202502/17/Triethyl-orthoformate-3D-balls3919.png")
Triethyl orthoformate is an organic compound with the formula HC(OC2H5)3. It is a colorless volatile liquid. It is orthoester of formic acid. Commercially available, the industrial synthesis is from hydrogen cyanide and ethanol.
It may also be prepared from the reaction of sodium ethoxide and chloroform: