Tert-Butyl methyl ether：Uses and Polarity

Uses of Tert-Butyl methyl ether

Tert-Butyl methyl ether (Methyl tertiary butyl ether, MTBE) is a flammable, volatile, colourless liquid. It is made from a mixture of chemicals such as isobutylene and methanol. It is available as an additive to unleaded gasoline and as a fuel component in gasoline engine fuels using more efficient combustion. MTBE is also used to dissolve gallstones by delivering MTBE through a surgical tube into the gallbladder to dissolve gallstones.

Polarity of Tert-Butyl methyl ether

Tert-Butyl methyl ether has low solubility and is a non-polar solvent. It has a polarity index of 2.5, a boiling point of 55.3°C, a viscosity of 0.27 (20°C), a refractive index of 1.369, and a density of 0.741 (g/mL at 20°C). MTBE forms azeotropes with water (52.6°C; 96.5% MTBE) and methanol (51.3°C; 68.6% MTBE). It is unstable to strong acids. It can react dangerously with bromine.

Tert-Butyl methyl ether is a relatively inexpensive solvent in organic chemistry and has properties comparable to those of ether, but with a higher boiling point and lower solubility in water. However, MTBE has a distinct advantage over most ethers in that it has a much lower tendency to form explosive organic peroxides. As a result, MTBE is used industrially as a safer alternative to ether, which is often used in academic research. However, handling ethers is more difficult and expensive. MTBE is currently the most effective solvent for cholesterol. Since it has a boiling point of 55.3°C, it remains liquid at body temperature and is easier to handle than ether. Selection criteria for MTBE treatment include asymptomatic, uncomplicated gallstone disease, uncalcified gallstones on CT and normal liver laboratory findings.