Sodium tert-butoxide is used as a strong base and a non-nucleophilic base. In organic synthesis, it serves as an intermediate in various reactions like condensation, rearrangement and ring-opening. Further, it finds use in agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, colorants, aroma chemicals, detergents and biodiesel. It acts as a catalyst in polymerization and isomerization reactions.
Its solubility in tert-BuOH is 0.208M at 30.2o and 0.382M at 60o, and it is quite soluble in tetrahydrofuran (32g/100g). It should not be used if it has a brown colour. [Feuer J Am Chem Soc 78 4364 1956, Hurd Inorg Synth I 87 1939, IR: Seubold J Org Chem 21 156 1956, Beilstein 1 IV 1609.]
