1-Bromo-4-Chlorobutane: Physical Traits, Uses, and Safety Profile

What is 1-Bromo-4-Chlorobutane?

1-Bromo-4-Chlorobutane stands out as a specialized chemical raw material, shaped by its formula C₄H₈BrCl and molecular weight of 191.47 g/mol. This compound carries both a bromine and chlorine atom attached to a butane backbone. It mostly shows up as a clear, colorless to pale yellow liquid, which makes it easy to spot for anyone who works with chemicals daily. The structure speaks of its halogenated nature, with bromine and chlorine atoms balanced on opposite ends. This symmetry impacts how reactive it gets during organic reactions in industrial labs and everyday chemical plants. Its CAS number, 6940-78-9, links the compound to a specific place in chemical catalogs, helping buyers, researchers, and regulators lock in on the correct substance. With an HS Code typically set as 2903.39, importers and traders sort out customs paperwork, often for export or local delivery in drums or bottles.

Physical Properties and Industrial Appeal

Liquid at room temperature, 1-Bromo-4-Chlorobutane flows easily with a density that floats around 1.39 g/cm³ at 20°C. This weight becomes important if you need to measure or mix large volumes or if it leaks in storage and flows across a work surface. Its boiling point nears 158°C, strong enough for many standard lab uses but not so high that it demands extreme equipment for distillation or purification. Unlike some other halogenates, you rarely see it crystallize under normal pressure; you won’t find it as powder, flakes, or pearls sitting on a shelf. Buyers expect a clear liquid, not a solid for grinding or pill-making. Solubility in water sits very low, but it dissolves well in many organic solvents, such as ether and dichloromethane. That matters if you’re planning on using it as a reaction intermediate, as you won’t have trouble finding a proper work medium. Some labs mix it into solutions for phase-transfer catalysis or for stepwise organic transformations.

Chemical Structure and Reactivity

The molecule’s backbone—four carbons in a straight chain—serves as a template for transformations. One end wears a bromine, the other a chlorine, allowing chemists to make targeted modifications or substitutions. You can trace this layout in reaction mechanisms. I remember using 1-Bromo-4-Chlorobutane in the nucleophilic substitution lab, where the bromine left rather quickly, opening a route to complex molecules needed in drug research. Those halogen atoms also add weight and bulk, which shifts properties like refractive index and boiling point, compared to plain butane or butanol. These traits spill over into application: this compound gets used for crafting custom organic intermediates or in specialty surfactant production, where one needs selective halogen handles to anchor other groups.

Specifications and Purity Requirements

Industries often request high-purity forms of 1-Bromo-4-Chlorobutane, with purity often topping 98%. Producers check for residual water, organic impurities, and halogen-free byproducts. Trace levels can slip past, but for certain syntheses—like making pharmaceutical intermediates—too much water or unwanted solvent spells disaster. Purity data is more than a line in a spec sheet; it keeps reactions on track, avoids unexpected explosions, and limits side reactions that waste time and money. Material comes in sealed drums or bottles. Storage needs tight caps, cool settings, and solid labeling. From personal experience, even a single leak from a worn cap can leave behind a faint, sweet odor and wreak havoc on nearby rubber or plastic seals, as well as create lingering safety concerns.

Material Handling: Safety and Hazards

Handling 1-Bromo-4-Chlorobutane calls for a careful approach. Its halogenated nature makes it hazardous if you touch, inhale, or spill it. Exposure brings risks, whether through skin contact, eye splash, or breathing vapors. Immediate effects include irritation; longer exposures could push things toward more serious health issues. Anyone working with it will keep gloves, goggles, and proper ventilation within arm’s reach. In large-scale plants, chemical-resistant suits and modern exhaust systems form another layer of defense. Fire risk sits lower than with highly flammable solvents, but improper mixing or heating always holds danger. Spraying water on a spill can float product onto unexpected surfaces, so chemical absorbent kits fit better for cleanup. I learned the value of these safeguards early, after seeing minor skin irritation from a splash due to a loose glove. Labels flag its hazard class with international symbols, such as the GHS07 exclamation mark. Safety data sheets accompany all shipments, serving as the last guard rail between safe work and hazardous chaos.

Broader Impact: Sustainable Use, Disposal, and Alternatives

The use of 1-Bromo-4-Chlorobutane brings up questions around safe waste management and worker health. Once used, residues and byproducts need tight controls in disposal, with waste batches sent to specialized treatment rather than regular landfills or drains. Open air dumping or careless washing sends halogenated compounds into water or soils, risking both human and environmental health. Alternatives get pitched, but for certain reactions, no other compound matches exactly what 1-Bromo-4-Chlorobutane can do. Responsible handling ties back to training, strict storage, and following disposal protocols. Those of us who’ve spent time in the lab or on the shop floor appreciate the balance between product performance and social responsibility; we know firsthand that shortcuts on handling chemical waste never pay dividends. Ongoing improvements in production and safer alternative methods help, but old habits and tight budgets slow change.

Key Takeaways on Use and Responsibility

1-Bromo-4-Chlorobutane remains a specialty raw material, deeply shaped by its physical and chemical properties—each of which carries weight for safety, regulations, and further chemical design. Manufacturers, researchers, and end-users lean on its reliable nature for niche transformations and product builds. As demand in pharmaceuticals, specialty polymers, and custom organic syntheses stays steady, attention to internal specifications, packaging, labeling, and risk controls keeps everyone in the chain safe. Emphasizing precision, transparency, and ethical controls around its use and waste management supports both innovation and a commitment to a healthier environment for everyone.