1,2-Epoxybutane

Synonyms

1,2-Butylene oxide; ( -)-Ethyloxirane; (+-)-2-Ethyloxirane; 1,2-Butene oxide; 1,2-Butene oxide (VAN); 1,2-Monoepoxybutane; 1-Butylene oxide; 2-Ethyloxirane; Butane, 1,2-epoxy-; DL-1,2-Epoxybutane; Ethyl ethylene oxide; Ethylene oxide, ethyl-; Ethylethylene oxide; Ethyloxirane; Oxirane, ethyl-; alpha-Butylene oxide; n-Butene-1,2-oxide; [ChemIDplus] UN3022

Category

Epoxides

Description

Colorless liquid with a characteristic odor; [ICSC] Colorless liquid with an unpleasant odor; May decompose on exposure to moisture; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Used to make polymers; Also used as a stabilizer and acid scavenger for chlorinated solvents and a corrosion inhibitor; [HSDB]

Comments

A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; Inhalation of high concentrations can cause CNS depression; [ICSC] Danger of cutaneous absorption; [MAK] Toxic by inhalation at room temperature; [Hawley] Liquid or vapor can burn eyes; May cause skin sensitization; [CAMEO] A corrosive substance that can cause injury to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; Inhalation may cause chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary edema; [MSDSonline] No data available on human exposure to the pure substance; [AIHA] 1,2-Butylene oxide, stabilized (UN3022) has warning of explosive polymerization; [ERG 2016] See "Ethylene oxide."

Biomedical References

180 mm Hg

0.07 ppm

Odor Threshold High

0.71 ppm

LC50 (rat) = 6,300 mg/m3/4h

Yes

Explanatory Notes

Flash point = -22 deg C; [ICSC] Odor threshold low (absolute perception limit), and high (recognition) from CHEMINFO; The Guide from the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "1,2-Butylene oxide, stabilized." VP from ChemIDplus;

may ignite at ambient temp

2 ppm

Yes

Other CNS neurotoxin

Skin burns

Possible (2b)

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Encephalopathy, acute toxic