General Description
Odorless colorless to light yellow solid or liquid. Floats on water. Freezing point is 97°F.
Reactivity Profile
Phenols, such as DIBUTYLPHENOL(128-39-2), do not behave as organic alcohols, as one might guess from the presence of a hydroxyl (-OH) group in their structure. Instead, they react as weak organic acids. Phenols and cresols are much weaker as acids than common carboxylic acids (phenol has Ka = 1.3 x 10^[-10]). These materials are incompatible with strong reducing substances such as hydrides, nitrides, alkali metals, and sulfides. Flammable gas (H2) is often generated, and the heat of the reaction may ignite the gas. Heat is also generated by the acid-base reaction between phenols and bases. Such heating may initiate polymerization of the organic compound. Phenols are sulfonated very readily (for example, by concentrated sulfuric acid at room temperature). The reactions generate heat. Phenols are also nitrated very rapidly, even by dilute nitric acid.
Air & Water Reactions
Insoluble in water.
Health Hazard
Irritates eyes and (on prolonged contact) skin. Ingestion causes irritation of mouth and stomach.
Chemical Properties
white solid
Uses
Antioxidant for Gasoline, Jet Fuels, and Electrical Insulating Oils
Uses
Antioxidant Intermediate, Pharmaceuticals
Uses
Widely used as antioxidant in fuels, lubricants and polymers. Employed as a synthetic intermediate for the production of higher molecular weight phenolic antioxidants. Used as an oxidation inhibitor and stabilizer (e.g. for fuel, oil and gasoline) and also used in plastics and rubber. Also applied as an intermediate and an antioxidant in aviation gasoline.
Definition
ChEBI: 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol is a member of the class of phenols carrying two tert-butyl substituents at positions 2 and 6. It has a role as an antioxidant. It is a member of phenols and an alkylbenzene.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
Purification Methods
Crystallise the phenol from aqueous EtOH or n-hexane. [Beilstein 6 III 2061.]
