tert-Butylamine
The fully branched primary butylamine supplied by Chelora Chemicals — the key intermediate for sulfenamide rubber-vulcanisation accelerators and for triazine herbicides, and a reagent in Diafenthiuron acaricide synthesis — exported from Indonesia with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What tert-Butylamine is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its central role in rubber-accelerator and herbicide manufacture, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
tert-Butylamine is the fully branched member of the four butylamine isomers: a primary amine attached to a quaternary-like carbon bearing three methyl groups, with no hydrogens on that carbon at all. This structure makes the nitrogen sterically crowded relative to its n-, iso- and sec-butylamine relatives, which in turn makes tert-butylamine a poor nucleophile in SN2-type reactions but a perfectly effective partner in reactions that do not depend on approach to a hindered centre, such as condensation with activated carbonyls or displacement at an aromatic ring.
At room temperature it is a colourless, highly flammable, corrosive liquid with a fishy, ammoniacal odour, miscible with water and most organic solvents. It is handled with the solvent-class and corrosive-liquid precautions typical of low-boiling aliphatic amines.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
tert-Butylamine's largest-volume use is as the intermediate for sulfenamide-class rubber vulcanisation accelerators, most notably N-tert-butyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide (TBBS), which modifies the rate of rubber vulcanisation and is a mainstay accelerator in tyre manufacture. It is also a precursor to several triazine-class pesticides — terbacil, terbutryn and terbumeton among them — and, elsewhere in specialty agrochemical chemistry, is the amine that reacts with the isothiocyanate intermediate in the synthesis of the acaricide/insecticide Diafenthiuron, forming the thiourea active ingredient.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers tert-Butylamine in technical grade (≈99% assay) for standard rubber-accelerator and pesticide-intermediate synthesis, and high-purity grade (99.5%+) for applications sensitive to colour and water content. Both grades are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How tert-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.
tert-Butylamine is manufactured commercially by direct catalytic amination of isobutylene with ammonia over a zeolite catalyst: (CH₃)₂C=CH₂ + NH₃ → (CH₃)₃CNH₂. A once-studied alternative, the Ritter reaction of isobutylene with hydrogen cyanide followed by hydrolysis of the resulting formamide, is not used industrially because it generates too much waste relative to the direct zeolite-catalysed amination route. The crude amine is purified by distillation to the required assay before packing.
Why the zeolite-catalysed amination route is preferred
Direct catalytic amination of isobutylene over a zeolite catalyst is continuous, scalable and generates far less waste than the older Ritter-reaction route, which is why it is the dominant industrial method for tert-butylamine manufacture today.
Industries and processes that use it
tert-Butylamine is consumed overwhelmingly by rubber-accelerator manufacture, with significant secondary demand from triazine-pesticide and specialty acaricide intermediate chemistry. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Sulfenamide Rubber Accelerator Intermediate
The key reagent for N-tert-butyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide (TBBS) and related sulfenamide accelerators, mainstays of tyre vulcanisation chemistry.
Triazine Pesticide Intermediate
A precursor to triazine-class pesticides including terbacil, terbutryn and terbumeton.
Diafenthiuron Acaricide Synthesis
Reacts with the isothiocyanate intermediate in Diafenthiuron synthesis to form the thiourea active ingredient of this acaricide/insecticide.
General Amide & Urea Synthesis
Used in organic synthesis for amide and urea formation in reactions that do not require nucleophilic approach to a hindered centre.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The fully branched amine's steric bulk governs almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways tert-Butylamine is converted into a finished intermediate.
Sulfenamide Formation
Reacts with 2-mercaptobenzothiazole derivatives under oxidative conditions to give TBBS and related sulfenamide rubber accelerators.
Thiourea Formation
Reacts with an aryl isothiocyanate to give the corresponding thiourea directly, the key bond-forming step in Diafenthiuron synthesis.
Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution
Displaces chloride from chlorotriazine intermediates to install the tert-butylamino substituent, a key step in terbutryn and terbumeton manufacture.
Amide Formation with Activated Acyl Donors
Reacts with activated acylating agents to give amides, despite the steric hindrance at nitrogen, where the acyl donor is reactive enough to tolerate the bulky amine.
tert-Butylamine against its other butylamine isomers we supply
Buyers sourcing tert-butylamine often need to confirm it against one of its three other isomers, each with its own established industrial role. A quick reference to all four in our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| tert-Butylamine | 75-64-9 | Fully branched amine | The product on this page — the rubber-accelerator and triazine-herbicide isomer in our range. |
| n-Butylamine | 109-73-9 | Primary linear amine | The unbranched isomer, used in benomyl fungicide chemistry — see its product page. |
| Isobutylamine | 78-81-9 | Primary branched amine | A branched isomer used in pharmaceutical and pesticide 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. |
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 tert-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.
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
Toxic 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.
Use in a well-ventilated area or under local exhaust ventilation to manage vapour concentration and odour.
Danger — GHS02 flammable, GHS05 corrosive and GHS06 toxic pictograms apply.
This compound is a highly flammable, corrosive liquid that is toxic if inhaled, causes severe skin burns and eye damage, and is harmful if swallowed. 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, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, open flames and other ignition sources, in tightly closed original packaging, segregated from strong oxidizing agents and strong acids. 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 tert-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 tert-Butylamine used for?+
02What is the CAS number of tert-Butylamine?+
03How is tert-Butylamine made?+
04What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is tert-Butylamine hazardous?+
06Why is tert-Butylamine a poor nucleophile despite being a primary amine?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply the Diafenthiuron isothiocyanate intermediate as well?+
Need tert-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.