What is "dimethyl dicarbonate"

n. (context chemistry English) a colourless liquid, used as a food preservative

Dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC) is an organic compound which is a colorless liquid with a sharp odor at room temperature. It is primarily used as a beverage preservative, processing aid, or sterilant ( INS No. 242), and acts by inhibiting the enzymes acetate kinase and L-glutamic acid decarboxylase. It has also been proposed that DMDC inhibits the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase by causing the methoxycarbonylation of their histidine components.