Tetrabutylammonium chloride

Tetrabutylammonium chloride is the organic compound with the formula [(CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂)₄N]⁺Cl⁻, often abbreviated as [Bu₄N]Cl, where Bu stands for n-butyl. A white water-soluble solid, it is a quaternary ammonium salt of chloride.

Tetrabutylammonium chloride

Identifiers
CAS Number	1112-67-0 37451-68-6 Hydrate
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
Beilstein Reference	3571227
ChEBI	CHEBI:51988
ChEMBL	ChEMBL1078612
ChemSpider	63847
ECHA InfoCard	100.012.905
EC Number	214-195-7
Gmelin Reference	10839
PubChem CID	70681
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID10883644
InChI InChI=1S/C16H36N.ClH/c1-5-9-13-17(14-10-6-2,15-11-7-3)16-12-8-4;/h5-16H2,1-4H3;1H/q+1;/p-1 Key: NHGXDBSUJJNIRV-UHFFFAOYSA-M
SMILES CCCC[N+](CCCC)(CCCC)CCCC.[Cl-]
Properties
Chemical formula	[(CH3CH2CH2CH2)4N]Cl
Molar mass	277.92 g·mol−1
Appearance	white solid
Density	1.018 g/cm3
Melting point	90 °C (194 °F; 363 K)[1]
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Warning
Hazard statements	H315, H319, H335
Precautionary statements	P261, P264, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P403+P233, P405, P501
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

It sees use as a phase-transfer catalyst, although it is less popular that the corresponding bromine salt TBAC. It can also undergo salt metathesis reactions to form a variety of other tetrabutylammonium salts.^[2][3] Often tetrabutylammonium bromide is preferred as a source of tetrabutylammonium because it is less hygroscopic than the chloride.^[4]