n-Butylamine
The straight-chain primary butylamine supplied by Chelora Chemicals — a precursor to the benzimidazole fungicide benomyl and a building block across rubber, pharmaceutical and emulsifier chemistry — exported from Indonesia with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What n-Butylamine is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its place as the straight-chain isomer of the four butylamines, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
n-Butylamine is a primary aliphatic amine with an unbranched four-carbon chain — one of four structurally distinct butylamine isomers (alongside isobutylamine, sec-butylamine and tert-butylamine), each with its own established industrial role despite sharing the same molecular formula and molar mass. As a primary amine it is a strong nucleophile and a moderately strong base, readily forming amides, carbamates, ureas and imines.
At room temperature it is a colourless, flammable liquid with a fishy, ammonia-like odour that gradually yellows on prolonged storage in air. It is miscible with water and most organic solvents and is handled with the solvent-class precautions typical of low-boiling aliphatic amines.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
n-Butylamine's best-documented specialty application is as a precursor in the synthesis of the systemic benzimidazole fungicide benomyl, where it is converted via n-butyl isocyanate into the carbamate side-chain of the molecule. Beyond this, it is used broadly as an intermediate for pesticides, pharmaceuticals (including the sulfonylurea drug tolbutamide and the drug fengabine) and emulsifiers, as a precursor for a rubber vulcanisation accelerator, and as a nylon plasticiser intermediate.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers n-Butylamine in technical grade (≈99% assay) for standard industrial synthesis, and high-purity grade (99.5%+) for pharmaceutical-intermediate applications sensitive to colour and water content. Both grades are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How n-Butylamine is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
n-Butylamine is manufactured industrially by reacting n-butanol with ammonia over an alumina catalyst at elevated temperature and pressure: CH₃(CH₂)₃OH + NH₃ → CH₃(CH₂)₃NH₂ + H₂O. Reductive amination of n-butyraldehyde with ammonia and hydrogen over a metal catalyst is also used in some production schemes. The crude amine is separated from residual alcohol, ammonia and secondary/tertiary amine by-products by distillation before packing.
Why the catalytic amination route is favoured at scale
Direct catalytic amination of n-butanol over alumina is continuous and scalable, giving good conversion with straightforward downstream distillation — the same general process family used across the lower primary aliphatic amines in this range.
Industries and processes that use it
n-Butylamine is consumed by fungicide, rubber, pharmaceutical and emulsifier manufacture. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Benomyl Fungicide Precursor
Converted via n-butyl isocyanate into the carbamate side-chain of benomyl, a systemic benzimidazole fungicide used in agriculture.
Pharmaceutical Intermediate Chemistry
A building block in the synthesis of drugs including the sulfonylurea tolbutamide and the drug fengabine.
Rubber-Chemical & Nylon Plasticiser Intermediate
A precursor for a rubber vulcanisation accelerator and for a nylon plasticiser intermediate.
Emulsifier Intermediate Chemistry
Used as a building block in emulsifier synthesis across several specialty-chemical formulation routes.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The primary amine's nucleophilicity governs almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways n-Butylamine is converted into a finished intermediate.
Isocyanate / Carbamate Formation
Conversion to n-butyl isocyanate, followed by reaction with a benzimidazole-carbamate intermediate, installs the carbamate side-chain of benomyl.
Amide / Sulfonylurea Formation
Reacts with acid chlorides and sulfonyl isocyanates to give amides and sulfonylureas, used in pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis such as tolbutamide.
N-Alkylation
Serves as the nucleophile in N-alkylation chemistry used in rubber-chemical and nylon plasticiser intermediate routes.
Reductive Amination Chemistry
Condenses with aldehydes and ketones to give imines that are reduced to secondary amines, used in some fine-chemical sequences.
n-Butylamine against its other butylamine isomers we supply
Buyers sourcing n-butylamine often need to confirm it against one of its branched isomers, each with its own established industrial role. A quick reference to all four in our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| n-Butylamine | 109-73-9 | Primary linear amine | The product on this page — the unbranched butylamine isomer, used in benomyl fungicide chemistry. |
| Isobutylamine | 78-81-9 | Primary branched amine | A branched isomer used in rubber and pharmaceutical intermediate chemistry — see its product page. |
| sec-Butylamine | 13952-84-6 | Secondary-carbon amine | The isomer used directly as a citrus postharvest fungicide — see its product page. |
| tert-Butylamine | 75-64-9 | Primary branched amine | The isomer used in rubber accelerator and triazine herbicide chemistry — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than n-Butylamine.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
Harmful if swallowed.
Harmful in contact with skin.
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
Harmful if inhaled.
Impervious gloves, chemical splash goggles or a face shield, and suitable respiratory protection are the baseline for routine handling.
Highly flammable; keep away from open flames, sparks, static discharge and other ignition sources, and bond/ground containers during transfer.
Danger — GHS02 flammable, GHS05 corrosive and GHS07 harmful pictograms apply.
This compound is a highly flammable, corrosive liquid; it causes severe skin burns and eye damage, and is harmful if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled. It must be handled with impervious gloves, splash-proof eye protection and suitable respiratory protection in a well-ventilated area, kept away from all ignition sources. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a cool, dry, dark, well-ventilated area away from open flames and other ignition sources, in tightly closed original packaging, segregated from strong oxidizing agents and strong acids. Minimise air exposure to limit the colour-forming oxidation that develops on prolonged storage. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay, colour and water content before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of n-Butylamine leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by GC), colour and water content, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is n-Butylamine used for?+
02What is the CAS number of n-Butylamine?+
03How is n-Butylamine made?+
04What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is n-Butylamine hazardous?+
06How many butylamine isomers are there, and how do they differ?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply the other butylamine isomers as well?+
Need n-Butylamine on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.