General Description
A colorless liquid.
Reactivity Profile
TRIISOBUTYL ALUMINUM(100-99-2) 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].
Air & Water Reactions
Pyrophoric. Reacts violently with water producing flammable gas [Rose 1961].
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.
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.
First aid
I If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.
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
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.
Waste Disposal
Careful incineration
Preparation
Triisobutylaluminum can be prepared by the reaction of activated aluminum with hydrogen and isobutylene at elevated temperature and pressure. The usual procedure for carrying out the reaction has been to charge activated aluminum, customarily as a slurry in the previously prepared product when available, sufficient isobutylene for the conversion of a substantial amount of the aluminum, and finally, sufficient hydrogen pressure, incrementally to maintain an acceptable reaction rate.
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.
