Tetrabutylammonium hydroxide

Tetrabutylammonium hydroxide
Names
	Preferred IUPAC name N,N,N-Tributylbutan-1-aminium hydroxide
	Other names TBAH, TBAOH
Identifiers
CAS Number	2052-49-5 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL1078154 ;
ChemSpider	2005872 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.016.498
PubChem CID	2723671;
UNII	68I858J9S1 ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID8062155 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C16H36N.H2O/c1-5-9-13-17(14-10-6-2,15-11-7-3)16-12-8-4;/h5-16H2,1-4H3;1H2/q+1;/p-1 Key: VDZOOKBUILJEDG-UHFFFAOYSA-M ; InChI=1/C16H36N.H2O/c1-5-9-13-17(14-10-6-2,15-11-7-3)16-12-8-4;/h5-16H2,1-4H3;1H2/q+1;/p-1 Key: VDZOOKBUILJEDG-REWHXWOFAE;
	SMILES [OH-].CCCC[N+](CCCC)(CCCC)CCCC;
Properties
Chemical formula	C16H37NO
Molar mass	259.478 g·mol−1
Solubility in water	soluble
Solubility	soluble in most organic solvents
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Tetrabutylammonium hydroxide is the chemical compound with the formula (C₄H₉)₄NOH, abbreviated Bu₄NOH with the acronym TBAOH or TBAH. This species is employed as a solution in water or alcohols. It is a common base in organic chemistry. Relative to more conventional inorganic bases, such as KOH and NaOH, Bu₄NOH is more soluble in organic solvents.^[1]

Preparation and reactions

Solutions of Bu₄NOH are usually prepared in situ from butylammonium halides, Bu₄NX, for example by reacting them with silver oxide or using an ion exchange resin. Attempts to isolate Bu₄NOH induces Hofmann elimination, leading to Bu₃N and 1-butene. Solutions of Bu₄NOH are typically contaminated with Bu₃N for this reason.^[1]

Treatment of Bu₄NOH with a wide range of acids gives water and the other tetrabutylammonium salts: ${\ce {Bu4NOH + HX -> Bu4NX + H2O}}$

Applications

Bu₄NOH is a strong base that is used often under phase-transfer conditions to effect alkylations and deprotonations. Typical reactions include benzylation of amines and generation of dichlorocarbene from chloroform.^[1]

Bu₄NOH can be neutralized with a variety of mineral acids to give lipophilic salts of the conjugate base. For example, treatment of Bu₄NOH with disodium pyrophosphate, Na₂H₂P₂O₇, gives (Bu₄N)₃[HP₂O₇], which is soluble in organic solvents.^[2] Similarly, neutralization of Bu₄NOH with hydrofluoric acid affords an relatively water-free Bu₄NF. This salt dissolves in organic solvents and is useful to desilylation.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Bos, Mary Ellen (2004). "Tetrabutylammonium Hydroxide". In Paquette, Leo A. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. New York: J. Wiley & Sons. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rt017..
^ "Trisammonium Geranyl Diphosphate". Organic Syntheses. 1993; Collected Volumes, vol. 8, p. 616.
^ "Silylation of Ketones with Ethyl Trimethylsilacetate: (Z)-3-Trimethylsiloxy-2-Pentene". Organic Syntheses. 1990; Collected Volumes, vol. 7, p. 512.

[eEROS-1] Bos, Mary Ellen (2004). "Tetrabutylammonium Hydroxide". In Paquette, Leo A. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. New York: J. Wiley & Sons. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rt017..

[2] "Trisammonium Geranyl Diphosphate". Organic Syntheses. 1993; Collected Volumes, vol. 8, p. 616.

[3] "Silylation of Ketones with Ethyl Trimethylsilacetate: (Z)-3-Trimethylsiloxy-2-Pentene". Organic Syntheses. 1990; Collected Volumes, vol. 7, p. 512.

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