4-tert-Butylcatechol

Description

Para-tertiary butyl catechol is specially prepared by reacting the impure catechol fraction with tertiary butyl alcohol. Used for its various properties (inhibition of polymerization and as an antioxidizing agent) in the manufacture of rubber, plastics and paints, in the preparation of petrolatum products, and as an antioxidant in oils, it may induce vitiligo.

Chemical properties

white to cream flakes

The Uses of 4-tert-Butylcatechol

Polymerization inhibitor for styrene-butadiene and other olefins.
Inhibitor-remover packings and ready-to-use, disposable prepacked columns offer a quick and convenient means of removing small amounts of inhibitors which are added to reagents or solvents that would otherwise be unstable (e.g., they may polymerize, oxidize or darken) on storage.
The inhibitor removers are useful in applications which require that the stabilizer or inhibitor [i.e., hydroquinone (HQ), hydroquinone monomethyl ether (MEHQ, 4-methoxyphenol) or 4-tert-butylcatechol (TBC)] be removed prior to use.

The Uses of 4-tert-Butylcatechol

4-tert-butylcatechol (PTBC) is used as an antioxidant in fats, oils, and mineral oils, and as a stabilizer in polyester resins and polystyrene resins. A concentration of PTBC (up to 0.005%) can be found in paints, glues, thermal paper, lubricating oil, and mineral oil products.
4-tert-Butylcatechol is widely utilized as an inhibitor in polymerization of butadiene, styrene, vinyl acetate and other reactive monomers. It plays an important role in the synthesis of tungsten oxide nanoparticles by nonaqueous sol-gel process. It acts as a stabilizer in the manufacturing of polyurethane foam. It is employed as an antioxidant for synthetic rubber, polymers and oil derivatives. It is also utilized as a purification agent for aminoformate catalysts.

General Description

4-tert-Butylcatechol,in the presence of O₂ catalyzed by tyrosinase, yields 4-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone. Electrochemical oxidation of 4-tert-Butylcatechol in the presence of 4-hydroxycoumarin as nucleophile has been studied using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. It undergoes electrochemical trimerization via anodic oxidation and mechanism of trimerization has been studied using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry.

Hazard

Toxic by ingestion and skin absorption.

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Contact allergens

p-tert-Butyl catechol is specially prepared by reacting the impure catechol fraction with tertiary butyl alcohol. It is used for its various properties (inhibitor of polymerization and antioxidizing agent) in the manufacture of rubber, plastics, and paints, in the preparation of petrolatum products, and as an antioxidant in oils. It may induce vitiligo.

Safety Profile

A poison by intravenous route. Moderately toxic by ingestion and skin absorption. A severe skin and eye irritant. Mutation data reported. Combustible when exposed to heat or flame. To fight fire, use Con, dry chemical, fog, mist. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid and irritating fumes

Purification Methods

Distil it in a vacuum, then recrystallise it from pentane or pet ether (or *C6H6). [Beilstein