INTRODUCTION

n-Butyllithium is a colorless, organic liquid. It belongs to the organometallic category of compounds.  It participates in a variety of chemical reactions and acts diversly as lithiation, alkylation, metalating, and deprotonation agent.  Commercially, it is offered as a solution in a hydrocarbon solvent.

Manufacture
The organometallic  is manufactured by reaction between n-butyl chloride and metallic lithium in hydrocarbon, normally hexane.

SynonymsButyllithium
Lithium-1-butanide
CAS no.109-72-8
EINECS no.203-698-7
Molecular formulaC4H9Li
Molecular weight64.06
Structure

Applications

APIs
Perhexiline, an anti-anginal drug
Intermediates
3,4,5-Trichlorothiophene-2-carbonyl chloride
2,4,6-Trichlorobenzoic acid
Ethyl 5-chlorothiophene-2-carboxylate
Tetrafluoro-p-methylbenzyl alcohol
A number of boronic acids such as:
– 2,3-Difluorophenylboronic acid
– 2-Bromopyridine-3-yl-boronic acid
Others
as anionic polymerization initiator
in manufacture of polybutadiene and isoprene rubber
in production of essence and pesticides
used in making liquid crystals
as reagent in metal halogen exchange reactions

SPECIFICATIONS (n-BuLi 1.6 M in Hexane)

TestUnitSpecification
AppearanceClear to slightly hazy pale-yellow liquid
SolubilitySoluble in hexane, benzene and toluene
Density @ 20 °Cg/ml0.670 – 0.690
MolarityMMin 1.6
Assay by chemical analysis%Min 15.0

SPECIFICATIONS (n-BuLi 2.5 M in Hexane)

TestUnitSpecification
AppearanceYellow clear transparent liquid
ConcentrationM2.980 – 2.520
Basic impurity (n-butoxy)mol/LMax 0.1
Total lithium content%23.6 – 24.4

STORAGE
Stored at 2-8 °C

PACKING
1.6 M solution – 280 kg cylinder
2.5 M solution – 300 kg cylinder

REACH Status
Not registered yet

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