Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
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EC number: 203-698-7 | CAS number: 109-72-8
Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Description of key information
Additional information
Appearance
n-Butyl lithium is a colourless to slightly yellow, viscous liquid.
Melting point, Boiling point, density and vapour pressure
n-Butyl lithium is pyrophoric and reacts violently with water to form butane and lithium hydroxide. Any study procedure that does not 100 % excludes air and moisture will not produce meaningful data and is of no value. Thus, standard methods to determine this endpoint are technically not applicable (due to the pyrophoric properties) and potential results are scientifically not meaningful (due to decomposition in contact with water / air humidity).
Particle size distribution
The substance is a liquid and is neither marketed in solid nor in granular form. Thus, this study is not required and has been omitted in accordance with Column 2 of Annex VII Section 7.14., REACh Regulation.
Partition coefficient
Lithium hydroxide is an inorganic substance and therefore the log Pow is not to be determined (in accordance with column 2 of REACh Regulation, ANNEX VII, section 7.8), but calculated. The calculated log Pow of n-Butyl lithium (by EPI SUITE version 4.00, based on the SMILES notation) is 1.25. Since n-Butyl lithium reacts violently with water to form butane and lithium hydroxide the log Pow of butane was also calculated. The log Pow of butane (calculated analogously) is 2.31.
Water solubility
n-Butyl lithium is pyrophoric and reacts violently with water / air humidity to form butane and lithium hydroxide. Butane is practically insoluble in water and readily volatilizes. Thus, a study on water solubility with n-butyllithium is technically not feasible and not meaningful.
Surface tesnsion
n-Butyl lithium is pyrophoric and reacts violently with water to form butane and lithium hydroxide. Moreover, the chemical structure gives no evidence that n-Butyl lithium is surface active. Thus, this study is not required and has been omitted in accordance with column 2 of Annex VII Section 7.6.
Flash point
n-Butyl lithium is pyrophoric and reacts violently with water / air humidity to form butane and lithium hydroxide. Thus, the performance of the study is technically not feasible. The flash point of butane is described to be -60°C, the flash point of n-Butyl lithium is (supposed to be) -60°C. Differently published information most likely refers to the solvent (e.g. -20°C is the flash point of hexane).
Auto flammability
The study does not need to be conducted as the substance ignites spontaneously with air (humidity) at room temperature and therefore has been omitted in accordance with column 2 of Annex VII Section 7.12., REACh Regulation.
Flammability
n-Butyl lithium may ignite spontaneously on exposure to air. The substance reacts violently with water and air humidity to form butane and lithium hydroxide. n-Butyl lithium is pyrophoric.
Explosiveness
The explosive properties of the substance as such were not determined as the structure does not show any chemical group, which is associated with explosive properties as e.g. described in the Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment Chapter R.7a: Endpoint specific guidance, May 2008; Chapter R.7.1.11 Explosive Properties. Thus, this study is not required and has been omitted in accordance with column 2 of Annex VII Section 7.11.
Oxidising properties
The oxidizing properties were not determined as n-Butyl lithium is flammable and the structure does not show any chemical group, which is associated with oxidising properties as e.g. described Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment Chapter R.7a: Endpoint specific guidance, May 2008; Chapter R.7.1.13 Oxidising Properties.
Thus, this study is not required and has been omitted in accordance with column 2 of Annex VII Section 7.13.
Finally it should be stressed again that n-Butyl lithium may ignite spontaneously in air or on contact with water / air humidity and that therefore studies on physical-chemical properties cannot be performed by standard methods. Spontaneous self-ignition occurred after a sample (n-Butyl lithium 90% in 10% hexane) was poured into a cup used for flash point determination (see disregarded study section 4.11). Two reports on accidents resulting in death are also attached to demonstrate the extreme reactivity of these compound (see section 4.23) if handled under "standard" conditions in chemical laboratories. The extreme reactivity of n-Butyl lithium requires best measurements for occupational health and safety. All unnecessary hazard and risk has to be avoided.
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