Dibutyl ether

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. 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. 1.8 M solution in dibutyl ether.