A Comprehensive Overview About NORMAL BUTYLBENZENE (NBB) – Properties, Applications

Normal Butyl Benzene (NBB) is an organic compound with the chemical formula C10H14. It is a colourless almost pale yellow liquid at room temperature. There are two isomers of Butylbenzene of which n-butylbenzene consists of a phenyl group attached to the 1 position of the butyl group. It is slightly greasy in texture and has a sweet aroma. It is a highly flammable liquid and evaporates quickly. N-Butylbenzene is less dense than water and insoluble in water.

Chemical properties:
Chemical formula: C10H14
CAS: 104-51-8
Molar mass: 134.222 g·mol−1
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Density: 0.8601 g/cm3 at 20 °C
Melting point: −87.9 °C (−126.2 °F; 185.2 K)
Boiling point: 183.3 °C (361.9 °F; 456.4 K)
Solubility in water: 11.8 mg/L
Solubility: alcohol, ether, benzene
Synonyms: 1-phenylbutane Butylbenzene

Uses and Applications:
Normal Butyl Benzene (NBB) can undergo oxidation to form butyrophenone. The chemical compound with CAS number 104-51-8 is used in the preparation of N-aryl azoles through oxidant-free and selective C(sp-2)-H amination reaction. It is also used in the synthesis of alkylated pentacene and ladder-type oligo(p-phenylene)s to increase solubility in commonly used organic solvents. In large volumes, N-Butyl Benzene is used as a solvent in the manufacturing of alkyd resins used in the coating industry.
A niche application of n-butyl benzene is to manufacture n-butylbenzene sulphonic acid (NBBSA) which has detergency properties useful in metal cutting fluids and metal cleaners. On account of its high boiling point and stability at low temperatures, n-butyl benzene is also used as a heat transfer fluid suitable for single fluid heating and cooling.

Normal Butyl benzene is used as a plasticizer, surface active agent, polymer linking agent. It is also used to make plastics as a solvent and is found in asphalt components and naphtha constituents. Vinati Organics Limited is one of the largest producers of organic normal Butyl Benzene (NBB) in the world supplying it to various industries and companies in India and abroad.