Dibutyl ether is a chemical compound belonging to the ether family with the molecular formula of C8H18O. It is colorless, volatile, and flammable liquid and has peculiar ethereal smell.

Liquid dibutyl ether is lighter than water. On the other hand, the vapor is heavier than air. It is not soluble in water, but it is soluble in acetone and many other organic solvents. Due to this property, dibutyl ether is used as solvent in various chemical reactions and processes. For example, phenyllithium is commercially available as a ca. 1.8M solution in dibutyl ether.

To prevent the formation of peroxides, it should be protected from heat, light and air.

Synthesis

Dibutyl ether is obtained from dehydration of 1-butanol with sulfuric acid as a catalyst and dehydrating agent:

2C4H9OH → C8H18O + H2O

Industrially, dibutyl ether can be obtained by dehydration of 1-butanol on alumina at 300 °C.[citation needed]

Reactions

This compound is generally stable to oxidation, reduction, and base. Strong acids like Hydroiodic acid and Hydrobromic acid can cleave this ether. In the presence of oxygen, dibutyl ether is oxidized to a peroxide or hydroperoxide.

Applications