Description | Butane thiol, also known as butyl mercaptan, is a volatile, clear to yellowish liquid with a fetid (extremely foul-smelling) odor, commonly described as "skunk" odor. In fact, butanethiol is structurally similar to several major constituents of a skunk's defensive spray but is not actually present in the spray. The scent of butanethiol is so strong that the human nose can easily detect it in the air at concentrations as low as 10 parts per billion. The threshold level for 1-butane thiol is reported as 1.4 ppb. |
Chemical Properties | Butanethiol is chemically classified among the thiols, which are organic compounds with molecular formulas and structural formulas similar to alcohols, except that sulfur-containing sulfhydryl group (- SH) replaces the oxygen-containing hydroxyl group in the molecule. Butanethiol's basic molecular formula is C4H9SH, and its structural formula is similar to that of the alcohol n-butanol. Butanethiol is prepared by the free radical catalyzed addition of hydrogen sulfide to 1-butene. Commercially, this is performed using ultraviolet light. Butanethiol is a thiol of low molecular weight, and it is highly flammable. |
Chemical Properties | 1-Butanethiol has an unpleasant (skunk) odor. |
Chemical Properties | colourless liquid |
Chemical Properties | Butanethiol is also known as butyl mercaptan. It is a volatile, highly flammable clear to yellowish liquid with an extremely foul-smelling, strong, garlic-, cabbageor skunk-like Butanethiol is also known as butyl mercaptan. It is a volatile, highly flammable clear to yellowish liquid with an extremely foul-smelling, strong, garlic-, cabbageor skunk-like |
Physical properties | Clear, colorless liquid with a strong garlic, cabbage, or pungent skunk-like odor. Odor threshold concentrations of 0.0028 ppbv and 3.7 μg/m3 (1.0 ppbv) were reported by Katz and Talbert (1930) and Nagata and Takeuchi (1990), respectively. |
Occurrence | Reported found in beef, cheddar cheese, raw chicken, cooked potatoes, beer and boiled eggs. |
Uses | Intermediate, solvent. |
Uses | Butanethiol is used as an industrial solvent , and as an intermediate for cotton defoliants. It is some times placed in the "stink bombs" and "stink perfumes" for prankster. |
Uses | Solvent; intermediate in the production of insecticides and herbicides; gas odorant |
Definition | ChEBI: Butanethiol is an alkanethiol. |
Synthesis Reference(s) | Journal of the American Chemical Society, 72, p. 1073, 1950 DOI: 10.1021/ja01159a005 |
General Description | Butanethiol is also known as butyl mercaptan. It is a volatile, clear to yellowish liquid with an extremely foul smell, with a strong, garlic-, cabbage-, or skunk-like odour. It is slightly oily in nature. Butanethiol is used as a chemical intermediate in the production of insecticides and herbicides. It is also used as a gas odorant. |