Butylamine

Butylamine is the straight-chain primary amine of butane, with an amino group (–NH2) on the terminal carbon. It is one of four structural isomers. The others are sec-butylamine, isobutylamine and tert-butylamine. When ordering, check that the specification names the correct isomer and CAS number.

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What are its key properties?

n-Butylamine has a molar mass of about 73.14 g/mol and boils at roughly 77–78 °C. It is less dense than water and mixes readily with water and most organic solvents. It is a moderately strong base and a good nucleophile. It reacts with acids to form ammonium salts, with acyl chlorides and anhydrides to form amides, and with aldehydes and ketones to form imines. It absorbs carbon dioxide from air.

Where is butylamine used?

Butylamine is mainly a chemical intermediate. Typical applications include the synthesis of:

• active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as the sulfonylurea tolbutamide
• pesticides
• rubber vulcanisation accelerators
• dyes, corrosion inhibitors, surfactants and emulsifiers

In research laboratories it serves as a reagent and building block in organic synthesis.

What should procurement and safety teams consider?

Butylamine is classified under GHS as a highly flammable liquid. It is corrosive, causing severe skin burns and eye damage, and is harmful or toxic by several exposure routes. Always check the supplier's SDS for the current hazard statements, storage requirements and transport classification.

Store it in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area, away from ignition sources, acids and oxidising agents. A CoA usually reports the following:

• assay by GC
• water content
• appearance

In the EU and UK, confirm the substance's REACH registration status. For the US market, confirm its TSCA status.

Related concepts

Butylamine belongs to the family of primary aliphatic amines, alongside ethylamine and propylamine. Its isomers, especially tert-butylamine, have different reactivity and applications. Related topics include amide formation, nucleophilic substitution, GHS hazard classification and SDS interpretation for flammable, corrosive liquids.