Dimethylformamide DMF

Applications

The primary use of DMF is as a solvent with low evaporation rate. DMF is used in the production of acrylic fibers and plastics. It is also used as a solvent in peptide coupling for pharmaceuticals, in the development and production of pesticides, and in the manufacture of adhesives, synthetic leathers, fibers, films, and surface coatings.

• It is used as a reagent in the Bouveault aldehyde synthesis and in the Vilsmeier-Haack reaction,  another useful method of forming aldehydes.
• It is a common solvent in the Heck reaction.
• It is also a common catalyst used in the synthesis of acyl halides, in particular the synthesis of acyl chlorides from carboxylic acids using oxalyl or thionyl chloride. 
• DMF penetrates most plastics and makes them swell. Because of this property DMF is suitable for solid phase peptide synthesis and as a component of paint strippers.
• DMF is used as a solvent to recover olefins such as 1,3-butadiene via extractive distillation.
• It is also used in the manufacturing of solvent dyes as an important raw material. It is consumed during reaction.
• Pure acetylene gas cannot be compressed and stored without the danger of explosion. Industrial acetylene is safely compressed in the presence of dimethylformamide, which forms a safe, concentrated solution. The casing is also filled with agamassan, which renders it safe to transport and use.

(Quoted from Wikipedia)