What is Dimethyl sulfoxide? Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is an organosulfur compound with the formula (CH3 )2SO. It is an important polar aprotic solvent that dissolves both polar and nonpolar compounds and is miscible in a wide range of organic solvents as well as water. It has a relatively high boiling point. DMSO is widely used in chlorofluoroaniline, acrylic and aromatics extraction, and externally applied agent, inositol nicotinate,antioxidant 1010, synthesis of berberine, esterification accelerator, waterborne paint antifreeze, capacitor, paint remover,trifluoronitrobenzene, sucrose esters of stearic acid, polyvinyl chloride fiber, paraffin refining, alpine region automobile antifreeze, kettle cleaning agent, and pesticide synergist, etc