Dimethyl terephthalate

Dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) is an ester of terephthalic acid and methanol and is used in the production of polyesters, including polyethylene terephthalate and polytrimethylene terephthalate. It consists of benzene with methyl ester groups attached in the para position, or to the first and fourth carbon atoms.

DMT has largely been superseded by pure terephthalic acid (PTA) as the preferred industrial route to polyester production.