Chemical Properties
Colorless, extremely volatile liquid or
gas; disagreeable odor.Soluble in alcohol; insoluble in water.
Physical properties
Colorless, flammable liquid or gas with a disagreeable odor
Uses
Organic synthesis, high-octane fuel manufacture.
Uses
3-Methyl-1-butene has been used in asymmetric total synthesis of (?)-Linderol A, a potent inhibitor of melanin biosynthesis of cultured B-16 melanoma cells.
Definition
ChEBI: An alkene that is but-1-ene carrying a methyl substituent at position 3.
General Description
A colorless volatile liquid with a disagreeable odor. Insoluble in water and less dense than water. Vapors heavier than air. Flash point below 0°F. Used to make other chemicals.
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Insoluble in water.
Reactivity Profile
3-Methyl-1-butene may react vigorously with strong oxidizing agents. May react exothermically with reducing agents to release hydrogen gas. In the presence of various catalysts (such as acids) or initiators, may undergo exothermic addition polymerization reactions.
Hazard
Highly flammable, dangerous fire and
explosion risk, explosive limits 1.6–9.1%.
Health Hazard
Inhalation or contact with material may irritate or burn skin and eyes. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution.
Safety Profile
Very dangerous fire
hazard when exposed to heat, flame, or
oxidizers. Explosive in the form of vapor
when exposed to heat or flame. To fight
fire, use alcohol foam, mist, spray, dry
chemical, CO2. When heated to
decomposition it emits acrid smoke and
irritating fumes. See also 2-METHYL-1
BUTENE.
Source
Schauer et al. (1999) reported 3-methyl-1-butene in a diesel-powered medium-duty truck
exhaust at an emission rate of 160 μg/km.
Schauer et al. (2001) measured organic compound emission rates for volatile organic
compounds, gas-phase semi-volatile organic compounds, and particle-phase organic compounds
from the residential (fireplace) combustion of pine, oak, and eucalyptus. The gas-phase emission
rate of 3-methyl-1-butene was 6.9 mg/kg of pine burned. Emission rates of 3-methyl-1-butene
were not measured during the combustion of oak and eucalyptus.
California Phase II reformulated gasoline contained 3-methyl-1-butene at a concentration of 380
mg/kg. Gas-phase tailpipe emission rates from gasoline-powered automobiles with and without
catalytic converters were 0.35 and 22.5 mg/km, respectively (Schauer et al., 2002).
Environmental Fate
Photolytic. The following rate constants were reported for the reaction of 3-methyl-1-butene and
OH radicals in the atmosphere: 3.0 x 10
-11 cm
3/molecule?sec (Atkinson et al., 1979); 6.07 to 9.01 x
10-11 cm
3/molecule?sec (Atkinson, 1985); 3.18 x 10
-11 cm
3/molecule?sec (Atkinson, 1990).
Chemical/Physical. Complete combustion in air yields carbon dioxide and water.
