butyl alcohol

butyl alcohol
any of four flammable, isomeric, liquid alcohols having the formula C4H9OH, used as solvents and in organic synthesis. Also called butanol.
[1865-70]

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      any of four organic compounds (organic compound) having the same molecular formula but different structures: normal (n-) butyl alcohol, secondary (sec-) butyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, and tertiary (t-) butyl alcohol.

      All four of these alcohols (alcohol) have important industrial applications. n-Butyl alcohol is a solvent for paints, resins (resin), and other coatings, and it is a component of hydraulic brake fluids. A large quantity of n-butyl alcohol is converted to esters (ester), which have various applications; for example, butyl acetate is used as a paint solvent, and dibutyl phthalate is used as a plasticizer (to keep plastics (plastic) from becoming brittle).

      sec-Butyl alcohol is used in solvents and in esters to a limited extent; larger amounts are oxidized to methyl ethyl ketone (2-butanone), an important solvent for the manufacture of plastics, fabrics, and explosives (explosive). Similar to n-butyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol is used in solvents and in plasticizers. Its esters are also used in fruit flavourings. t-Butyl alcohol is also used as a solvent and as a denaturing agent for ethyl alcohol. In smaller quantities it is used in flavourings (flavouring) and in perfumes (perfume).

      Commercial n-butyl alcohol is made by fermentation of corn (maize) or molasses or by condensation and reduction of acetaldehyde. sec-Butyl alcohol is produced from butene by reaction with sulfuric acid, followed by hydrolysis. t-Butyl alcohol is similarly produced from isobutylene (2-methylpropene). Isobutyl alcohol can be made by the hydroformylation of propylene, giving isobutyraldehyde, followed by reduction.

Leroy G. Wade, Jr.
 

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • butyl alcohol — n any of four flammable alcohols C4H9OH (as butanol) derived from butanes and used in organic synthesis and as solvents * * * [NF] a clear, colorless, mobile liquid, C4H9OH, with a characteristic odor, occurring in four isomeric forms; used as a… …   Medical dictionary

  • butyl alcohol — n. any of four isomeric alcohols, C4H9OH, obtained from petroleum products: used as solvents and in organic synthesis …   English World dictionary

  • butyl alcohol — butilo alkoholis statusas T sritis chemija formulė H(CH₂)₄OH atitikmenys: angl. butyl alcohol rus. бутиловый спирт ryšiai: sinonimas – 1 butanolis …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • butyl alcohol — noun a flammable alcohol derived from butanes and used for solvents • Syn: ↑butanol • Hypernyms: ↑alcohol …   Useful english dictionary

  • butyl alcohol — noun Date: circa 1871 any of four flammable alcohols C4H9OH (as butanol) used in organic synthesis and as solvents …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • butyl alcohol — noun Any of four isomeric aliphatic alcohols derived from butane; butanol …   Wiktionary

  • butyl alcohol — bu′tyl al′cohol n. chem. any of four flammable isomeric liquid alcohols having the formula C4H9Oused as solvents and in organic synthesis Also called butanol • Etymology: 1865–70 …   From formal English to slang

  • butyl alcohol — /bjutəl ˈælkəhɒl/ (say byoohtuhl alkuhhol) noun one of a group of three isomeric butanols of the formula C4H9OH …  

  • sec-butyl alcohol — antr butilo alkoholis statusas T sritis chemija formulė CH₃CH(OH)CH₂CH₃ atitikmenys: angl. sec butyl alcohol rus. втор бутиловый спирт ryšiai: sinonimas – 2 butanolis …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • tert-butyl alcohol — tret butilo alkoholis statusas T sritis chemija formulė (CH₃)₃COH atitikmenys: angl. tert butyl alcohol; trimethylcarbinol rus. трет бутиловый спирт; триметилкарбинол ryšiai: sinonimas – 2 metil 2 propanolis …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

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