Ethyl formate is an ester formed when ethanol reacts with formic acid. Ethyl formate has the characteristic smell of rum and is partially responsible for the flavor of raspberries, occurring naturally in some plant oils, fruits, and juices.

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1. Ethyl formate is used as a solvent for cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate, as well as a fungicide, larvicide, and fumigant for foods, cigarettes, cereals, and dried fruits. Ethyl formate is used as a flavoring agent to blend the aromas of peaches, bananas, apples, apricots, pineapples, and berries. It is also used as a flavoring agent in butter, brandy, cordials, and whiskey. Ethyl formate is also an intermediate in organic synthesis. For example, in the pharmaceutical industry, it is used in the production of the anti-tumor drug fucoidan and vitamin B1. Ethyl formate is condensed with acetone in a sodium methoxide-xylene solution to produce sodium acetylated vinyl alcohol, which can be condensed with acetylglycine ester and then cyclized with potassium thiocyanate to produce ethyl 2-mercaptoimidazole-4-carboxylate. Ethyl formate is used in the production of drugs such as houttuynia cordata, chloranil, anadrol, pyrantel, thiabendazole, levofloxacin, and fully synthetic anisodamine.

2. It is used as a solvent for cellulose acetate and cellulose nitrate, as well as in flavor synthesis and pharmaceutical production.