Dibutyl ether

<h2 id="synthesis">Synthesis</h2>
<p>Dibutyl ether is obtained from dehydration of <a href="/facts/1-butanol/GlSNHexW">1-butanol</a> with sulfuric acid as a catalyst and dehydrating agent:
</p>
2C4H9OH → C8H18O + H2O
<p>Industrially, dibutyl ether can be obtained by dehydration of 1-butanol on alumina at 300 °C.
</p>
<h2 id="reactions">Reactions</h2>
<p>This compound is generally stable to oxidation, reduction, and base. Strong acids like HI and HBr can cleave this ether. In the presence of oxygen, dibutyl ether is oxidized to a  peroxide or hydroperoxide.
</p>
<h2 id="applications">Applications</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Solvent/LoMPMz8S">Solvent</a> for Grignard syntheses</li>
<li>Solvent for <a href="/facts/Fat/87HcP11s">fats</a>, <a href="/facts/Oil/fsgX2IRM">oils</a>, <a href="/facts/Organic_acid/2Pfb26Lp">organic acids</a>, <a href="/facts/Alkaloid/m6hUXohz">alkaloids</a>, natural and synthetic <a href="/facts/Resin/r1uVThQ8">resins</a></li>
<li>For manufacturing of <a href="/facts/Pesticide/Uhf4KnwJ">pesticides</a> (e.g. cyhexatin)</li></ul>

Dibutyl ether open-in-new

Dibutyl ether