Tetrabutylammonium Bromide: A Clear Look at Its Characteristics and Applications

What is Tetrabutylammonium Bromide?

Tetrabutylammonium Bromide stands out as a quaternary ammonium compound with the formula C₁₆H₃₆NBr. It appears as a white crystalline solid, often showing up as flakes, powder, or pearls, depending on the manufacturer and intended use. The density hovers around 1.04 g/cm³. Experience in chemical handling has shown me just how easy it becomes to identify the texture and structure of this material by touch and sight, picking up the subtle differences in particle size that can hint at its processing route. The HS Code for Tetrabutylammonium Bromide usually falls under 29239000, classifying it as an organic nitrogen compound for customs and regulatory reporting.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Working with Tetrabutylammonium Bromide, its melting point gets attention—sitting between 102°C and 104°C, this solid doesn’t need much coaxing to turn liquid under lab conditions. The compound dissolves well in water, methanol, and acetonitrile, making it flexible in both organic and aqueous solutions. I’ve seen it dissolve almost instantly when dropped into warm water, which speeds up preparation in the lab. In powdered or pearl form, it stays free-flowing and resists clumping if kept dry. Left open, high humidity can make it absorb moisture and turn sticky, so it stores best sealed tight and away from damp air.

Structure and Molecular Properties

The molecular structure of Tetrabutylammonium Bromide sits as a single large cation—tetrabutylammonium—paired with a bromide anion. Each butyl group branches out from the central nitrogen atom, building a bulky configuration. This unique structure has made it invaluable for reactions requiring a phase-transfer catalyst. The molecular weight clocks in at 322.47 g/mol, which stays consistent regardless of form: flakes, powder, pearls, or even in crystalline sheets. Crystal form in particular shows the compound's strong ionic lattice—a property that brings stability and predictability during storage and usage.

Specifications and Material Grading

Material grade always matters, especially if the raw chemical feeds pharmaceutical syntheses, organic reactions, or battery technology. Typical purity ranges from 98% to 99%, with impurities tracked by advanced spectrometry. I’ve seen chemical buyers push for Certificates of Analysis on every batch, and rightfully so—one inconsistent batch affects the outcome of an entire production line. Suppliers often list product by form—solid blocks, powder, or pearls—to meet industrial requirements. Handling this material, you recognize that even density shifts of a few decimals make a difference for precise solution preparation.

Safe Handling: Hazard and Health Risks

Safety practices aren’t optional when measuring and weighing Tetrabutylammonium Bromide. As a chemical, it carries low toxicity compared to many halide salts but still earns a place in the hazardous materials category. Prolonged exposure to dust or accidental ingestion may irritate mucous membranes. My experience always puts gloves and safety goggles first, and good ventilation second. Skin contact should always get washed off as soon as possible using running water. Spill management is simple because it's a solid, but disposing of it responsibly—according to hazardous chemical protocols—remains important. Storing it away from incompatible materials like strong oxidizers ensures safe, trouble-free operations.

Role as a Raw Material: Industrial and Laboratory Uses

Tetrabutylammonium Bromide serves vital roles across organic synthesis, electrochemistry, and pharmaceuticals. In phase-transfer catalysis, it’s the go-to compound, shuttling ions between layers for more efficient reactions. This specificity in usage means it pops up in labs from undergraduate teaching settings to advanced research installations. In practice, measuring and preparing it as a solution comes down to skill and accuracy: misjudging water content or particle size can ruin a batch. Some laboratories prefer using it in solution form to cut down on preparation time, diluting accurately according to the precise molecular weight. Its consistency and reliability allow chemists to count on reproducible results, supporting advances from medicine to materials science.

Tackling Material Challenges and Solutions

Material quality sometimes moves up and down because of supply chain disruptions, inconsistent storage, or subpar purification at the factory level. These issues result in variations in purity, particle size, or even subtle shifts in density, all of which impact downstream application. Addressing this calls for stricter raw material audits, better supplier relationships, and investment in storage infrastructure to minimize exposure to humidity. I’ve found that open conversations with suppliers about QC data, shipping times, and packaging conditions often surface hidden pain points before they create bigger problems. Tracking storage temperature and container seals also helps keep each batch consistent from delivery to use.

Conclusion: Looking Ahead with Tetrabutylammonium Bromide

Understanding the nuts and bolts of Tetrabutylammonium Bromide—from its structure and physical properties to how it fits into production pipelines—proves valuable for anyone handling chemicals professionally. Recognizing its versatile role as a raw material and staying vigilant about safety and storage upholds both regulatory requirements and the pursuit of chemical innovation. Clear product info and tight quality control close the gap between raw material and finished good, making solutions possible for both new and existing challenges in the chemical industries.