N-Butylurea

Chemical properties

WHITE TO ALMOST WHITE CRYSTALLINE POWDER

The Uses of N-Butylurea

n-Butylurea is used as a fertilizer for rice. It is used in the preparation of drugs which are recommended for diabetes.

General Description

Odorless white solid.

Air & Water Reactions

Water soluble.

Reactivity Profile

N-Butylurea is an amide. Amides/imides react with azo and diazo compounds to generate toxic gases. Flammable gases are formed by the reaction of organic amides/imides with strong reducing agents. Amides are very weak bases (weaker than water). Imides are less basic yet and in fact react with strong bases to form salts. That is, they can react as acids. Mixing amides with dehydrating agents such as P2O5 or SOCl2 generates the corresponding nitrile. The combustion of these compounds generates mixed oxides of nitrogen (NOx). N-Butylurea decomposes on heating.

Health Hazard

ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: N-Butylurea emits toxic fumes when heated to decomposition.

Fire Hazard

Flash point data for N-Butylurea are not available. N-Butylurea is probably combustible.

Safety Profile

Moderately toxic by parenteral route. Mutation data reported. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NOx.

Purification Methods

Crystallise the urea from pKEst EtOH/water, then dry it under vacuum at room temperature. [Beilstein 4 I 371, 4 IV 578.]