Tetrabutylammonium bromide
Tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) is a quaternary ammonium salt with a bromide commonly used as a phase transfer catalyst.[2] It is used to prepare many other tetrabutylammonium salts by salt metathesis reactions. The anhydrous form is a white solid.[3]
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| Names | |
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| Preferred IUPAC name
 N,N,N-Tributylbutan-1-aminium bromide  | |
Other names
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| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)  | 
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| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.015.182 | 
| EC Number | 
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PubChem CID  | 
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA)  | 
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| Properties | |
| C16H36BrN | |
| Molar mass | 322.368 g/mol | 
| Appearance | White solid | 
| Melting point | 103 °C (217 °F; 376 K) Decomposes at 133C[1] | 
| Hazards | |
| Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
Main hazards  | 
Harmful | 
| GHS labelling: | |
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| Warning | |
| H302, H315, H319, H335, H411, H412 | |
| P261, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P301+P312, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P330, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P391, P403+P233, P405, P501 | |
| Related compounds | |
Other anions  | 
Tetrabutylammonium tribromide, Tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride, Tetrabutylammonium chloride, Tetra-n-butylammonium iodide, Tetrabutylammonium hydroxide | 
Other cations  | 
Tetramethylammonium bromide, Tetraethylammonium bromide | 
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). 
Infobox references  | |
In addition to being cheap, tetrabutylammonium bromide is also environmentally friendly, has a greater degree of selectivity, is operationally simple, non-corrosive, and can be recycled easily as well.[4]
Preparation and reactions
    
Tetrabutylammonium bromide can be prepared by the alkylation of tributylamine with 1-bromobutane.[3]
Tetrabutylammonium bromide is used to prepare other salts of the tetrabutylammonium cation by salt metathesis reactions.[5]
It serves as a source of bromide ions for substitution reactions. It is one of a commonly-used phase transfer catalyst. As its melting point is just over 100 °C and decreases in the presence of other reagents, it can be considered an ionic liquid.[3]
Role in semi-clathrate formation
    
TBAB is being extensively studied as a thermodynamic promoter in the formation of semi-clathrate hydrates which greatly brings down the pressure - temperature requirement for forming gas hydrates.
See also
    
- Tetrabutylammonium tribromide, with an additional Br2 unit
 - Tetrabutylammonium fluoride
 - Tetrabutylammonium chloride
 - Tetrabutylammonium iodide
 
References
    
- Applied Catalysis A: General 241 (2003) 227–233
 - Henry J. Ledon (1988). "Diazo transfer by means of phase-transfer catalysis: di-tert-butyl diazomalonate". Organic Syntheses.; Collective Volume, vol. 6, p. 414
 - Charette, André B.; Chinchilla, Rafael; Nájera, Carmen (2007). "Tetrabutylammonium Bromide". In Paquette, Leo A. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rt011.pub2. ISBN 978-0471936237.
 - Chary, M.V.; Keerthysri, N.C.; Vupallapati, S.V.N.; Lingaiah, N.; Kantevari, S. (2008). "Tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) in isopropanol: An efficient, novel, neutral and recyclable catalytic system for the synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles". Catal. Commun. 9: 2013–2017.
 - Klemperer, W. G. (1990). "Tetrabutylammonium Isopolyoxometalates". Inorganic Syntheses. Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. 27. p. 74–85. doi:10.1002/9780470132586.ch15. ISBN 9780470132586., Bojes, J.; Chivers, T.; Drummond, I. (1978). "Heptathiazocine(Heptasulfurimide) and Tetrabutylammonium Tetrathionitrate". Inorganic Syntheses. Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. 18. p. 203–206. doi:10.1002/9780470132494.ch36. ISBN 9780470132494., Ceriotti, A.; Longoni, G.; Marchionna, M. (1989). Bis(Tetrabutylammonium) Hexa-μ-Carbonyl-Hexacarbonylhexaplatinate(2−), [N(C4H9)4]2[Pt6(CO)6(μ-CO)6]. Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. 26. p. 316–319. doi:10.1002/9780470132579.ch57.;Christou, George; Garner, C. David; Balasubramaniam, A.; Ridge, Brian; Rydon, H. N. (1982). "9. Tetranuclear Iron-Sulfur and Iron-Selenium Clusters". Tetranuclear Iron-Sulfur and Iron-Selenium Clusters. Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. 21. p. 33–37. doi:10.1002/9780470132524.ch9. ISBN 9780470132524..
 


