Butyryl chloride
Encyclopedia
Butyryl chloride is an organic compound
with the chemical formula
C4H7ClO.
Butyryl chloride is liquid at room temperature, has a colorless to light yellowish appearance and has an extremely strong pungent odor. Butyryl chloride is soluble in almost all aprotic organic solvents, but it decomposes violently by heating and spontaneously decomposes when exposed to moist air or water to form pure hydrochloric acid gas. It also reacts violently when mixed with strong oxidants, metals (especially iron), alkali metals, alkali earth metals, bases and wide range of organic substances such as amines, dimethyl sulfoxide
, and alcohols. These reactions tend to result in explosions and fire; hence extreme caution must be taken when mixing with other substances.
Butyryl Chloride belongs in the group of acyl halide
s which are involved in acylation process which introduce an acyl group (RCO-) into compounds.
of the larynx and bronchi, chemical pneumonitis, and pulmonary edema. Extremely corrosive/destructive of tissues especially mucous membranes, upper respiratory tract, eyes, and skin. Prolonged exposure and frequent contact is believed (but yet to be proven) to cause seizures and cancer. If butyryl chloride is ingested, do not induce vomiting. Contact poison control immediately. Butryryl chloride must be neutralized before disposal. Note: in case of fire never spray down with water, use only CO2 or foam extinguishers. In case of spillage butyryl chloride can neutralized with sodium carbonate
, slaked lime, or soda ash.
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
with the chemical formula
Chemical formula
A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....
C4H7ClO.
Butyryl chloride is liquid at room temperature, has a colorless to light yellowish appearance and has an extremely strong pungent odor. Butyryl chloride is soluble in almost all aprotic organic solvents, but it decomposes violently by heating and spontaneously decomposes when exposed to moist air or water to form pure hydrochloric acid gas. It also reacts violently when mixed with strong oxidants, metals (especially iron), alkali metals, alkali earth metals, bases and wide range of organic substances such as amines, dimethyl sulfoxide
Dimethyl sulfoxide
Dimethyl sulfoxide is an organosulfur compound with the formula 2SO. This colorless liquid 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...
, and alcohols. These reactions tend to result in explosions and fire; hence extreme caution must be taken when mixing with other substances.
Butyryl Chloride belongs in the group of acyl halide
Acyl halide
An acyl halide is a chemical compound derived from an oxoacid by replacing a hydroxyl group with a halide group....
s which are involved in acylation process which introduce an acyl group (RCO-) into compounds.
Reactions
Derivatives of butyryl chloride are used in manufacturing pesticides, pharmaceuticals, perfume fixative, polymerization catalyst, and dyestuffs. Butyryl chloride is also commonly used as an intermediate for organic synthesis for the preparation of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, dyes, esters, and peroxide compounds.Health Concerns/Disposal
The chemical, physical, and toxological properties of butyryl chloride have not been thoroughly investigated. Butyryl chloride is known to be toxic and symptoms of exposure include: burning sensation at site of contact, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Inhaling can result in death from spasms, inflammation and edemaEdema
Edema or oedema ; both words from the Greek , oídēma "swelling"), formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin or in one or more cavities of the body that produces swelling...
of the larynx and bronchi, chemical pneumonitis, and pulmonary edema. Extremely corrosive/destructive of tissues especially mucous membranes, upper respiratory tract, eyes, and skin. Prolonged exposure and frequent contact is believed (but yet to be proven) to cause seizures and cancer. If butyryl chloride is ingested, do not induce vomiting. Contact poison control immediately. Butryryl chloride must be neutralized before disposal. Note: in case of fire never spray down with water, use only CO2 or foam extinguishers. In case of spillage butyryl chloride can neutralized with sodium carbonate
Sodium carbonate
Sodium carbonate , Na2CO3 is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white powder, the monohydrate. Sodium carbonate is domestically well-known for its everyday use as a water softener. It can be extracted from the...
, slaked lime, or soda ash.