Methyl tert-butyl ether

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    1634-04-4

    Molecular formula
    C5H12O

    SMILES
    CC(C)(C)OC

    Safety labels

    Flammable
    Flammable

    Irritant
    Irritant

  • Odor profile

    Fragrance
    Ethereal 79.05%
    Camphoreous 59.24%
    Fresh 56.77%
    Mint 52.42%
    Solvent 49.82%
    Fermented 48.19%
    Alcoholic 41.54%
    Gassy 40.58%
    Musty 31.16%
    Pungent 30.83%

     

    Flavor
    Pungent 45.55%
    Green 32.44%
    Ethereal 32.03%
    Earthy 29.06%
    Camphor 24.16%
    Solvent 24.15%
    Ether 22.3%
    Black currant 19.94%
    Blackberry 19.72%
    Catty 19.65%

     

    Odor impact est.
    High

    Odor threshold

    • Odor Threshold Low: 0.05 [mmHg]. Odor Threshold High: 0.13 [mmHg]. Odor thresholds from CHEMINFO

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    0.9

    pKa est.
    8.72 (weak base)

    Molecular weight
    88.15 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Ultra fast

    Melting point expt.

    • -164.2 °F (USCG, 1999)
    • -108.6 °C
    • -109 °C
    • -164.2 °F

    Boiling point

    • 131.4 °F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999)
    • 55.1 °C
    • 55 °C
    • 131.4 °F

    Flash point

    • -29.66 ˚C est.
    • -14 °F (USCG, 1999)
    • -14 °F
    • -80 °C
    • -28 °C c.c.

    Solubility expt.

    • Solubility of water in methyl t-butyl ether: 1.5 g/100 g; unstable in acid solution
    • In water, 51,000 mg/L at 25 °C
    • 4.8 g/100 g in water
    • Soluble in water
    • Solubility in water 4wt%; solution of water in 1.3 wt%
    • Very soluble in ethanol, ethyl ether
    • Solubility in water, g/100ml at 20 °C: 4.2

  • Synonyms

    • tert-Butyl methyl ether
    • Methyl tert-butyl ether
    • 1634-04-4
    • MTBE
    • 2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane
    • Methyl t-butyl ether
    • Propane, 2-methoxy-2-methyl-
    • T-BUTYL METHYL ETHER
    • Methyl-tert-butyl ether
    • Methyl tertiary-butyl ether
    • Methyl-t-butyl ether
    • 2-Methyl-2-methoxypropane
    • Ether, tert-butyl methyl
    • tert-Butylmethyl ether
    • Methyl 1,1-dimethylethyl ether
    • tert-butylmethylether
    • tert-C4H9OCH3
    • 1,1-dimethylethyl methyl ether
    • Methyl tert butyl ether
    • methyltertbutyl ether
    • CCRIS 7596
    • CHEBI:27642
    • HSDB 5847
    • Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether
    • EINECS 216-653-1
    • UN2398
    • BRN 1730942
    • methyl tertbutyl ether
    • methyltert-butyl ether
    • tertbutyl methyl ether
    • DTXSID3020833
    • methyl-tert-butyl-ether
    • 29I4YB3S89
    • TERT-BUTOXYMETHANE
    • MFCD00008812
    • DTXCID30833
    • tert-butyl-d9 methyl ether
    • (METHYL)(TERT-BUTYL)ETHER
    • EC 216-653-1
    • 1219795-06-8
    • 4-01-00-01615 (Beilstein Handbook Reference)
    • METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER [MI]
    • METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER [IARC]
    • TERT-BUTYLMETHYL ETHER [USP-RS]
    • tBME
    • tert-BuOMe
    • METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER (IARC)
    • TERT-BUTYLMETHYL ETHER (USP-RS)
    • 2-methoxy-2-methyl-propane
    • methyl-t-butylether
    • t-butylmethyl ether
    • tertbutylmethyl ether
    • Methyl-tert-butylether
    • tert-Butyl methyl ether, for HPLC, >=99.8% (GC)
    • Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) 1000 microg/mL in Methanol
    • Driveron
    • UNII-29I4YB3S89
    • MeOtBu
    • tBuOMe
    • t-butylmethylether
    • methylterbutyloxide
    • methyltertbutylether
    • tertbutylmethylether
    • methyl t-butylether
    • methylt-butyl ether
    • t-BuOMe
    • t-butyl methylether
    • t-butyl-methylether
    • tbutyl methyl ether
    • tert-butylmethyether
    • MTBE ACS grade
    • tert.butylmethylether
    • Metil-terc-butileter
    • t-butyl methyi ether
    • t-butyl-methyl ether
    • t-butyl-methyl-ether
    • methyl tert-butylether
    • methyl-tert.butylether
    • methyl-tertbutyl ether
    • methyl-tertbutyl-ether
    • tert -butylmethylether
    • tert butylmethyl ether
    • tert-butyl-methylether
    • tert. butylmethylether
    • tert.-butylmethylether
    • tert.butyl-methylether
    • tert.butylmethyl ether
    • tertbutyl(methyl)ether
    • 2Methoxy2methylpropane
    • 2Methyl2methoxypropane
    • Tert-butyl methylether
    • methy tert-butyl ether
    • methyl ter-butyl ether
    • metyl tert-butyl ether
    • ter-butyl methyl ether
    • tert-buty methyl ether
    • tert-buyl methyl ether
    • methyl tert.-butylether
    • methyl tert.butyl ether
    • methyl-tert butyl ether
    • methyl-tert. butylether
    • methyl-tert.-butylether
    • methyl-tert.butyl ether
    • tert-butyl-methyl ether
    • tert-butyl-methyl-ether
    • tert. butyl-methylether
    • tert.-butyl methylether
    • tert.-butyl-methylether
    • tert.-butylmethyl ether
    • tert.butyl methyl ether
    • Ether, tertbutyl methyl
    • Tert butyl methyl ether
    • methoxy-2-methyl propane
    • methyl tert.-butyl ether
    • methyl-tert. butyl ether
    • tert. butyl-methyl-ether
    • tert.-butyl methyl ether
    • tert.-butyl-methyl ether
    • tert.-butyl-methyl-ether
    • methyl tertiarybutyl ether
    • methyl-tertiarybutyl ether
    • Propane, 2methoxy2methyl
    • tert. Butyl methyl ether
    • tertiary butylmethyl ether
    • methyl tert.- butyl ether
    • Epitope ID:122671
    • tertiary-butyl methyl ether
    • Ether methyl tert-butylique

  • Applications

    MTBE (CAS 1634-04-4) is widely used as a gasoline oxygenate and octane booster to reduce emissions; as a relatively polar ether, it serves as an industrial solvent for coatings, inks, and adhesives; it is also employed as an extraction solvent for natural products, such as essential oils and fragrance components; and as a chemical intermediate, MTBE can be hydrolyzed to yield methanol and tert-butanol, supporting the production of tert-butyl alcohol derivatives.

    gpt-5-nano

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 1122.2
    methanol 1309.08
    isopropanol 931.91
    water 75.56
    ethyl acetate 659.71
    n-propanol 859.25
    acetone 641.76
    n-butanol 722.6
    acetonitrile 747.99
    DMF 802.82
    toluene 298.31
    isobutanol 546.31
    1,4-dioxane 912.86
    methyl acetate 697.64
    THF 939.76
    2-butanone 585.39
    n-pentanol 368.28
    sec-butanol 826.01
    n-hexane 266.58
    ethylene glycol 485.8
    NMP 769.31
    cyclohexane 306.91
    DMSO 406.91
    n-butyl acetate 292.22
    n-octanol 360.2
    chloroform 2024.97
    n-propyl acetate 246.19
    acetic acid 1090.69
    dichloromethane 1166.34
    cyclohexanone 524.17
    propylene glycol 712.22
    isopropyl acetate 360.22
    DMAc 890.93
    2-ethoxyethanol 575.74
    isopentanol 423.17
    n-heptane 255.95
    ethyl formate 353.95
    1,2-dichloroethane 510.76
    n-hexanol 586.22
    2-methoxyethanol 1103.8
    isobutyl acetate 154.41
    tetrachloromethane 701.78
    n-pentyl acetate 232.46
    transcutol 1050.24
    n-heptanol 324.8
    ethylbenzene 157.01
    MIBK 206.86
    2-propoxyethanol 774.05
    tert-butanol 1001.0
    MTBE 641.81
    2-butoxyethanol 471.81
    propionic acid 905.68
    o-xylene 232.74
    formic acid 519.99
    diethyl ether 701.2
    m-xylene 185.9
    p-xylene 196.72
    chlorobenzene 299.54
    dimethyl carbonate 224.35
    n-octane 94.09
    formamide 536.87
    cyclopentanone 593.63
    2-pentanone 410.18
    anisole 306.89
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 518.33
    gamma-butyrolactone 665.88
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 861.75
    pyridine 605.33
    3-pentanone 417.67
    furfural 568.88
    n-dodecane 66.35
    diethylene glycol 623.42
    diisopropyl ether 212.02
    tert-amyl alcohol 881.63
    acetylacetone 356.28
    n-hexadecane 68.94
    acetophenone 232.38
    methyl propionate 537.94
    isopentyl acetate 224.21
    trichloroethylene 954.37
    n-nonanol 324.57
    cyclohexanol 602.07
    benzyl alcohol 269.46
    2-ethylhexanol 323.27
    isooctanol 221.37
    dipropyl ether 416.85
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 279.29
    ethyl lactate 221.49
    propylene carbonate 391.93
    n-methylformamide 588.23
    2-pentanol 544.66
    n-pentane 296.87
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 592.49
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 327.25
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 369.87
    mesitylene 121.08
    ε-caprolactone 515.84
    p-cymene 138.94
    epichlorohydrin 610.75
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 868.05
    2-aminoethanol 791.36
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 767.14
    sulfolane 538.81
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 119.55
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 795.0
    n-hexyl acetate 385.61
    isooctane 63.92
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 492.87
    sec-butyl acetate 198.75
    tert-butyl acetate 322.68
    decalin 103.53
    glycerin 704.32
    diglyme 693.37
    acrylic acid 735.67
    isopropyl myristate 167.34
    n-butyric acid 746.86
    acetyl acetate 387.24
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 139.63
    ethyl propionate 303.16
    nitromethane 912.17
    1,2-diethoxyethane 355.76
    benzonitrile 257.84
    trioctyl phosphate 114.02
    1-bromopropane 518.67
    gamma-valerolactone 728.99
    n-decanol 237.93
    triethyl phosphate 151.41
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 248.03
    propionitrile 572.25
    vinylene carbonate 335.83
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 839.33
    DMS 260.14
    cumene 119.01
    2-octanol 225.47
    2-hexanone 233.52
    octyl acetate 237.13
    limonene 221.74
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 559.96
    ethyl orthosilicate 158.69
    tributyl phosphate 129.09
    diacetone alcohol 407.39
    N,N-dimethylaniline 227.46
    acrylonitrile 563.79
    aniline 483.5
    1,3-propanediol 744.32
    bromobenzene 280.59
    dibromomethane 902.7
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 956.43
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 209.1
    tetrabutyl urea 153.12
    diisobutyl methanol 162.94
    2-phenylethanol 303.13
    styrene 186.98
    dioctyl adipate 191.54
    dimethyl sulfate 270.18
    ethyl butyrate 265.25
    methyl lactate 405.0
    butyl lactate 228.38
    diethyl carbonate 196.35
    propanediol butyl ether 401.8
    triethyl orthoformate 226.44
    p-tert-butyltoluene 152.37
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 276.31
    morpholine 1122.24
    tert-butylamine 759.2
    n-dodecanol 185.95
    dimethoxymethane 469.02
    ethylene carbonate 303.39
    cyrene 264.76
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 298.01
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 202.19
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 367.37
    4-methylpyridine 485.94
    dibutyl ether 303.81
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 162.94
    DEF 525.79
    dimethyl isosorbide 380.51
    tetrachloroethylene 748.4
    eugenol 283.05
    triacetin 356.08
    span 80 419.1
    1,4-butanediol 276.99
    1,1-dichloroethane 849.13
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 280.28
    methyl formate 386.34
    2-methyl-1-butanol 490.3
    n-decane 115.84
    butyronitrile 483.81
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 276.97
    1-chlorooctane 244.19
    1-chlorotetradecane 105.83
    n-nonane 121.3
    undecane 83.36
    tert-butylcyclohexane 112.18
    cyclooctane 114.7
    cyclopentanol 659.27
    tetrahydropyran 842.54
    tert-amyl methyl ether 551.41
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 451.07
    1-hexene 378.41
    2-isopropoxyethanol 389.36
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 544.25
    methyl butyrate 313.81

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction