Triisobutylaluminum

Chemical properties

clear colorless to light yellow solution

Chemical properties

The aluminum alkyls are highly flammable and reactive, colorless to yellow liquids at room temperature. The lighter trialkylaluminums ignite spontaneously in air. They are normally supplied and used in a 20% solution with a hydrocarbon solvent, such as hexane, heptane, benzene, toluene. Properties may depend on solvent. Reacts violently with water.

The Uses of Triisobutylaluminum

Triisobutylaluminium is a useful reagent for preparing anti-corrosive coating materials.

The Uses of Triisobutylaluminum

Polyolefin catalyst, manufacture of primary alcohols and olefins, pyrophoric fuel.

The Uses of Triisobutylaluminum

Triisobutylaluminum is used as a reducingagent. It is also used in combinationwith transition metal compounds as aZiegler-Natta catalyst in polymerization andhydrogenation reactions. A dilute solution ofthe compound is employed in commercialapplications.

Definition

A mixture of isomers readily prepared by polymerizing isobutylene. A typical mixture is 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane- 3 and 2-neopentyl-4,4-dimethylpentene-1. May be depolymerized to simpler isobutylene derivatives.

Air & Water Reactions

Pyrophoric. Reacts violently with water producing flammable gas [Rose 1961].

Reactivity Profile

Triisobutylaluminium reacts violently with alcohols, phenols, amines, carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, halogens, and halogenated hydrocarbons, causing fire and explosion hazards [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980. p. 937].

Health Hazard

Inhalation of smoke from fire causes metal-fume fever (flu-like symptoms). Contact with liquid can cause severe burns of eyes and skin because of spontaneous ignition.

Health Hazard

Being moisture sensitive, the pure liquid orits concentration solution can cause serverburns to the skin.

Fire Hazard

It is a highly pyrophoric compound, igniting spontaneously in air. The flash point is measured to be －18°C ( －1°F) (Aldrich 1996). A 1.0 M solution in hexane or toluene is pyrophoric too. It decomposes explosively with water. Reactions with lower alcohols, halogenated hydrocarbons, halogens, and common oxidizing substances can be violent or explosive. Triisobutylaluminum is thermally less stable than triethylaluminum, decomposing above 50°C (122°F), producing isobutene and hydrogen.

Safety Profile

A poison. Extremely destructive to living tissue. A very dangerous fire hazard; ignites on exposure to air. Incompatible with moisture, acids, air, alcohols, amines, halogens. To fight fire, use CO2, dry sand, dry chemical. Do not use water, foam, or halogenated extinguishing agents. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.

Potential Exposure

Alkyl aluminum compounds are used as components of olefin polymerization catalysts. They are also used in the synthesis of higher primary alcohols and in pyrophoric fuels, as a catalyst in making ethylene gas; and in plating aluminum.

Shipping

ntial fire or explosion hazard. Shipping: UN3399 Organometallic substance, liquid, water-reactive, flammable, Hazard Class: 4.3; Labels: 4.3 Dangerous Dangerous when wet material, 3-Flammable liquid, technical name Required. UN3051-Spontaneously combustible. Also, this material is dangerous when wet. (Note: this number does not appear in the 49/CFR HazMat tables).

Incompatibilities

The lighter trialkylaluminums ignite spontaneously in air; can self-heat in the air at room temperature without any added energy and may ignite. These compounds are strong reducing agents. Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides. Incompatible with water, oxygen (air), acids, alcohols, phenols, amines, carbon dioxide; sulfur oxides; halogenated compounds, and many other substances

Waste Disposal

Careful incineration