1540. n-Butyl Alcohol

Nomenclature

CAS number: 71-36-3
1-Butanol; butyl alcohol; propyl carbinol.
C4H10O; mol wt 74.12.
C 64.82%, H 13.60%, O 21.59%.

Description and references

Prepn by reduction of butyraldehyde with sodium borohydride: Chaikin, Brown, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 71, 122 (1949). Manuf from ethylene oxide and triethylaluminum: Rudner, US 3091627 (1963 to Koppers); by oxidation of tributylborane: Mirviss, US 3067235 (1962 to Esso). Manuf by carbohydrate fermentation, by hydrogenation of butyraldehyde, from crotonaldehyde: Faith, Keyes & Clark's Industrial Chemicals, F. A. Lowenheim, M. K. Moran, Eds. (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 4th ed., 1975) pp 178-185. Purification and vapor pressure: Biddiscombe et al., J. Chem. Soc. 1963, 1954. Toxicity study: H. F. Smyth et al. Arch. Ind. Hyg. Occup. Med. 4, 119 (1951).

Chemical structure

Properties

Highly refractive liquid; burns with a strongly luminous flame; leaves a transitory greasy spot on paper. Odor similar to that of fusel oil, but weaker. d420 0.810. bp 117-118°. mp -90°. Flash pt 36-38°C. nD20 1.3993. A mixture of 63% of the alcohol and 37% water forms a constant boiling mixture, boiling at 92°. Soly at 25°, 9.1 ml/100 ml H2O: Booth, Everson, Ind. Eng. Chem. 40, 1491 (1948). Miscible with alc, ether and many other organic solvents. LD50 orally in rats: 4.36 g/kg (Smyth).

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure are irritation of eyes, nose and throat; headache, vertigo and drowsiness; corneal inflammation, blurred vision, lacrimation and photophobia; dermatitis; possible auditory nerve damage, hearing loss; CNS depression. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 38.

Use

As organic solvent for fats, waxes, resins, shellac, varnish, gums etc.; manuf lacquers, rayon, detergents, other butyl compds; in microscopy for preparing paraffin imbedding materials.