Back in the mid-20th century, chemists started exploring new ways to give organic molecules more backbone against oxidation and breakdown. 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol came out of those efforts. Some of the earliest patents pointed to its ability to block unwanted chemical changes in fuels, plastics, and even food products. By the late 1950s, big names in industrial chemistry had embraced compounds like this for more reliable fuel performance and longer shelf-life in emerging plastics. Folks in the chemical industry started referring to it by different trade names, but the backbone always traced back to that signature phenolic ring with two fat tert-butyl groups on either end. The simple look on paper hides just how clever those early inventors were in fighting off troublesome free radicals.
Down in the lab, 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol stands out for its role as an antioxidant. Anyone who’s thrown it in with fuels, lubricants, or rubbers knows its value in stopping deterioration cold. This isn’t a flashy product you show off; it’s a steady performer that rarely lets the process line down. Go to the shelf and pick up a bottle—there’s no fancy packaging, no wild colors. Its value lands in how it makes sure things don’t go bad before they’re supposed to. Applications stretch from stabilizers in motor oils to polymer manufacturing, keeping plastics useful and containers clear. It slides into formulations for transformer oils, adhesives, and some specialty coatings, too.
2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol comes as a white to pale yellow crystalline solid with a mild, almost sweet smell if you get close enough. It melts around 35–37°C, which means it stays solid at room temperature but won’t be stubborn in the lab. The real powerhouse quality comes from those bulky tert-butyl groups stuck to the phenolic ring at the 2 and 6 positions. That structure blocks any would-be attackers (like oxygen free radicals), helping it outlast simpler antioxidants. Solubility tells the real-world story: you’ll dissolve it in organic solvents like benzene, toluene, or alcohol, but ask it to go into water and it balks, which stems from the hydrocarbon arms sticking out. Boiling point usually clocks in near 253–254°C. Density sits close to 0.893 g/cm3.
Talk about technical grade—a lot of suppliers list purities of 98 percent or higher, and that’s the sweet spot for anyone who needs repeatable results. Labels typically show the chemical name, CAS number 128-39-2, and storage suggestions pointing out the need for a sealed, cool, and dry place. Regulations demand hazard pictograms because exposure can cause skin or eye irritation. Standard specs recommend using protective gloves and eyewear in the lab or on the factory floor. Good practice also means keeping open containers away from flames, since the solid can ignite under the right conditions.
Preparation sometimes calls back to the classics—a Friedel-Crafts alkylation, with phenol and isobutylene crossing paths in the presence of an acid catalyst. Some processes swap out isobutylene for tert-butyl alcohol, still relying on Lewis acids to stitch the bulky tert-butyl arms onto the phenol ring. These methods scale up well and don’t call for rare reagents or exotic conditions. Modern facilities tune this process by dialing in the acid strength and temperature, aiming for high yield and minimal byproducts. Older plants used glass-lined reactors, but steel dominates today. The waste streams are easier to handle now, too, thanks to improved control steps and solvent recycling.
Once you have 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol in hand, plenty of reactions open up. It still has an exposed phenolic hydrogen, so it can serve as a base for making esters or ethers—a handy move for chemists building new stabilizer molecules. Under strong oxidizing conditions, it resists breakdown, which means it hangs onto its antioxidant role longer than many alternatives. Sometimes process chemists will dial it up into custom polymer stabilizers by hooking appendages onto the phenolic oxygen or the ring itself. These modifications give it more specific solubility or help it tag along with other chemicals in complex blends.
Chemists rarely settle on a single name. This compound shows up in research papers and catalogs as 2,6-Di-tert-butylphenol, DTBP, 2,6-Bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol, or even Antioxidant 29. Global suppliers pitch it under trademarked versions or codes like AO-29 or Tenox 6. Someone in procurement might cross paths with even less common trade names. I’ve seen folks reference the long IUPAC name in technical dossiers—2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol—but most lab workers just say “DTBP” and everyone in the room knows what’s on the table.
Nothing about DTBP demands panic, but the usual chemical sense applies. Prolonged contact can cause irritation and, on rare occasions, some folks have reported allergic skin responses. Every workplace using this substance should rely on gloves, goggles, and lab coats. Eyes need quick rinsing stations within easy reach. The dust poses a mild inhalation hazard—so keeping the powder contained and setting up good ventilation matters. Storage needs a dry, cool space away from heat or sparks. Regulatory rules in many regions require labeling containers as hazardous and logging disposal under organic waste—never just tossing it in the trash. Environmental standards call for stopping it from hitting water streams in large concentrations, since the compound chains up with organic matter and can linger.
DTBP gets loaded into plastic manufacture to hold off breakdown during extrusion or molding, so new containers actually reach their designed shelf-life. Refineries and fuel blenders rely on it to stave off gum formation, which keeps engines running cleaner and longer. Lubricant makers add it to stop oils from turning rancid, buying drivers and machine operators more time between changes. Even transformer oils and some resins in electrical equipment get a dash, fending off the free radicals sparked by heat or current surges. Researchers investigating preservation of animal and vegetable fats use DTBP as a tool to benchmark new antioxidants, measuring how well their samples resist aging by comparison. Specialty adhesive makers reach for it to extend product life while waiting out long-distance shipping or hot warehouse storage.
Research groups push the limits of phenolic antioxidants, and DTBP often comes up as a baseline. Labs go head-to-head with other antioxidants, pushing ever-harsher conditions to see where DTBP might give up. Teams tweak the core structure, creating cousins with better oil solubility, lower volatility, or smaller environmental footprints. Industrial chemists publish studies on better catalysts for the Friedel-Crafts route, chasing greater efficiency and fewer waste acids. Environmental researchers dig into how this chemical degrades in soil or water, mapping out which bacteria might clean up spills. In bioanalytics, some teams now track trace residues in food or water to keep public health agencies updated on long-term trends.
Toxicology reports say DTBP poses only mild risk at levels found in common applications, but high doses and long-term exposure should not slip past the radar. Studies with lab animals show no clear threat of cancer or severe acute toxicity, but high exposure can mess with liver enzymes and disturb metabolic function. Occupational exposure studies point to the importance of not turning a blind eye, particularly when handling dusty or hot forms. While many major regulations set safe limits, rising awareness about occupational health means folks should wear protection and use fume hoods. Water and soil studies suggest environmental buildup could affect sensitive aquatic organisms, so it’s smart to prevent release outside controlled facilities.
Looking ahead, DTBP likely won’t lose ground in existing markets—motor oils, lubricants, fuels, plastics, and adhesives still count on it as a steady guard against unwanted chemical change. Green chemistry trends could push companies to develop more biodegradable antioxidants, but DTBP will hang on in settings where alternatives can’t quite do the job. Next-generation versions may see tweaks to help them break down faster outside industrial use or pack even more antioxidant punch into a smaller dose. Academic groups keep looking for ways to blend this backbone into smart materials or responsive systems, which might someday mean self-healing plastics or coatings that change their chemistry in response to the environment. Policy shifts around environmental impact could steer production toward lower-emission synthesis and cradle-to-cradle approaches, but steady demand from existing sectors ensures DTBP has a role for a good stretch yet.
Step into any chemical catalogue, and 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol stands out. The name might remind you of a tongue-twister, but in practice, this molecule carries weight across several fields. From industrial machines to your household’s daily-use items, this compound pops up in more places than most realize.
Engines run hard, oil moves fast, and air brings oxygen, which means oxidation is always lurking. Over time, oxidation breaks down lubricants, turning clean oil into sludge and clogging motors. People use 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol as an antioxidant, a tool to slow down that process. Oil refineries found that adding this phenol during blending helps oils last longer. It stands out because those bulky tert-butyl groups block unstable molecules from chewing up the oil.
It doesn’t stop at lubricants. Gasoline and diesel both suffer from oxidation. If fuel goes “off,” it forms sticky gums, blocking filters and cutting engine life short. Antioxidants like 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol step in and keep those tanks clean, especially for fuel stored over weeks or months.
Anyone who buys plastic patio chairs knows the heartbreak of seeing them crumble in the sun after a season or two. Exposure to air and light chips away at certain plastics, especially polyethylene and polypropylene. Factories began adding small amounts of 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol during manufacture so that the final products resist breakdown. This isn’t about marketing hype; it’s about fewer cracked parts and less microplastic trash.
For people working in manufacturing, the ability to count on parts lasting an extra year or two saves money and builds customer trust. The savings from less frequent replacement reach far beyond the factory floor.
Every chemistry student who’s run a reaction knows the frustration of products breaking down if left out too long. In the lab, researchers use 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol to keep sensitive chemicals stable during experiments. Its reliability shows up in academic journals and patents. Back in graduate school, my team leaned on these phenols for storing solutions that liked to self-destruct. Without them, whole weeks of work would go down the drain. Every saved reaction meant less wasted effort and research money.
Widespread use does come with questions. The compound, like many industrial chemicals, doesn’t belong in waterways or soil. Its long-term impact on ecosystems needs more study. Regulators have called for smart handling and careful disposal. Many companies put strict controls on who handles this material in the workplace. Gloves, goggles, good ventilation—these are non-negotiable steps on site.
Some researchers aim to develop greener versions that use less hazardous chemistry but offer the same protection. Biomimicry, for instance, could inspire antioxidants modeled after plant polyphenols. Other teams focus on tightening recycling and reclamation processes so less of this compound leaks outside controlled environments.
Finding solutions that match performance without extra baggage is tough, but industry and science have a strong incentive to keep pushing. After all, protecting machines, materials, and the environment is a job that never ends.
2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol carries the chemical formula C14H22O. For anyone dabbling in chemistry or reading the back of a lab supply order, this looks like a random cluster of letters and numbers. It tells a longer story though. This compound features a phenol core — that classic benzene ring with an -OH group. The “2,6-di-tert-butyl” part comes in with two beefy tert-butyl groups stuck on the ring at the second and sixth carbon positions. That bulking-up changes a lot about how this molecule acts and where you find it.
2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol doesn’t just sit on a shelf. It plays a big role as an antioxidant, especially in plastics, lubricants, and fuels. Picture an engine’s oil heating up and risking breakdown. Antioxidants like this one work to stop oxygen from chewing up molecules and making things go gummy or rancid. It’s like a bouncer kicking out reactive troublemakers before they crash the party. The tert-butyl groups offer steric protection, shielding that core –OH group and letting it hang onto free radicals, stopping chain reactions before they spiral out of control.
Every chemical ends up somewhere. Even one used to protect plastics or oils doesn’t vanish after it does its job. 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol turns up in wastewater and sometimes shows up in environmental monitoring. Too much of it can irritate skin or eyes and might interfere with aquatic life. Over the years, environmental scientists have flagged phenolic compounds for closer observation because of their persistence and potential bioaccumulation. Disposal takes a real plan. Labs need proper hazardous waste bins, and factories can’t just dump leftovers. Think of it as a challenge to balance usefulness with responsibility—protecting car engines without risking river ecosystems.
Reducing environmental impact starts on the shop floor and in the lab. Chemists look for ways to recover and recycle used antioxidants. Factories invest in closed-loop systems, treating all chemical waste before letting anything leave the site. There’s also a big push to design “greener” molecules that degrade harmlessly when they finally wash out with the rain, but those don’t always match the performance of the original.
As a researcher, reading safety data sheets before handling this compound became second nature. I learned not just the numbers in the formula but the extra steps: gloves that don’t tear, goggles that don’t fog up, vent hoods always running. It’s tempting to think of chemistry as an abstract puzzle, but every bottle on a lab shelf, every formula you memorize, winds up touching real lives and natural systems. The story of 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol’s formula ties together practical need, scientific know-how, and a real responsibility to look after what happens next.
Most folks don’t give much thought to the names printed on product labels unless there’s an obvious warning. The truth is, a name like 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol sounds more science fair than household. Still, it finds its way into things like lubricants, fuels, and plastics thanks to its role as an antioxidant. Its structure helps slow down oxidation, stopping stuff from breaking down so fast. That sounds useful enough, but anything with such a strong job in chemistry tends to ring some safety bells.
Toxicity studies on 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol reveal a mixed story. Doesn't just evaporate quietly — the compound can irritate your skin, eyes, or even the airways if you’re working with a lot of it. OSHA and other workplace safety panels list it among substances that need attention. The oral toxicity is moderate. People working in chemical plants, labs, or recycling facilities are more likely to run into concentrated forms. Smaller exposures, like the trace levels that might show up in fuels or rubber, pose less risk, but nobody should brush them off.
Back in a university research lab, wearing gloves and goggles wasn’t just a ritual — one splash on bare skin and the burn would convince you to double-check every bottle. Watching students handle 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol, there’s always a shared understanding: treat any unknown with the same respect you’d give bleach or ammonia. That approach keeps accidents rare, and it should apply outside the lab too.
You won’t find this compound in your kitchen cupboard, but industries that use it must manage proper containment. NIOSH data mentions the risk of respiratory distress, headaches, and even possible effects on the nervous system if people breathe in too much. There’s evidence it’s toxic in aquatic environments, so runoff from factories could upset water systems and harm wildlife. EPA summaries warn about chronic exposure, nudging companies to limit how much makes it past the production line.
For the public, the likelihood of running into dangerous amounts is pretty low unless you live near a wastewater site or work directly with chemicals. Companies using 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol have to follow regulations about storage, ventilation, and disposal. Open drums, leaky valves, or forgotten containers invite problems, while strict protocols help keep mishaps off the evening news.
Safer workspaces depend on reliable training, accessible safety gear, and up-to-date hazard communication. I remember how even experienced chemists could get complacent — someone would forget a mask, and lessons got learned the hard way. Locking up chemicals and labeling them right helps everyone, from the new hires to the veterans. On a bigger scale, wastewater treatment plants need better detection for lesser-known toxins, since compounds like this don't always get flagged with the routine checks.
Research keeps looking for substitutes that break down faster or cause less trouble if spilled. Until then, keeping 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol where it belongs — in the tanks, not the tap — matters for people and the environment. Taking the hazard seriously doesn’t mean panic; it means respect, education, and never skipping the basics, no matter how busy the day gets.
Every lab holds a shelf full of bottles with faded labels, and one of those might read “2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol.” For a lot of people, it’s just another antioxidant or stabilizer, often used in plastics, fuels, or even lubricants. It’s easy to lose sight of what matters most: the health of the people who handle these chemicals and the integrity of the results they work for. Keeping this particular phenol in shape goes much deeper than just stacking it away. Safety doesn’t run on auto-pilot, and neither does chemical quality.
I’ve seen first-hand how quickly heat and humidity can mess up even the sturdiest bottles. 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol has a reputation for stability, but it won’t stick around if you expose it to air and light for too long. Oxygen works its way in and breaks it down, and that can knock the legs out from under a research project or product line. If you store chemicals like this at room temperature but let the sun warm the shelves every afternoon, degradation creeps up on you. That’s not an exaggeration—it happens piece by piece, even before discoloration is obvious or odors tip you off.
Most product data sheets recommend keeping it in a tight container, far from sunlight and heat sources. I haven’t forgotten the damaged shipments we received one summer: jars arrived clumped and yellowed, and lab results fell apart until new stock arrived. Mistakes like that cost a lot more than just a reorder.
Air may seem pretty harmless, but for chemicals like 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol, it’s a silent enemy. Moisture invites slow hydrolysis, a reaction that eats away at purity and performance over time. If a workplace fails at ventilation or leaves jars open just for the sake of convenience, batches may seem fine—until they aren’t. Once, an old lab partner pushed to bulk-buy stock to save on costs, forgetting that opened containers took months to use up. Some of those sat half-sealed. The quality didn’t hold, and the accounting department called it “shrinkage,” but it really could have been avoided with better habits.
Storing this chemical isn’t rocket science. In my own work, I keep it in airtight glass jars, tucked in a cabinet away from sunlight and far from any source of heat. Refrigeration is often unnecessary, but a dry – not damp – environment helps extend its shelf life. A well-run lab or plant logs every opening and closing of the bottle, making turnover traceable. That makes a huge difference for audit trails and for keeping people accountable.
Label accuracy matters, too. Surprising how often handwritten expiry dates vanish under glove smudges, so pre-printed labels become insurance against confusion. A solid training program for new staff gets everyone up to speed on how to recognize early signs of chemical change—clouding, color shift, clumps—so they don’t leave spoiled material sitting around.
Reliable storage isn’t just about following an instruction manual. If I’ve learned anything from years in the lab, shortcuts add up to costly recalls and unnecessary risks. 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol deserves the same respect as any hazardous or sensitive compound. Controlled room temperature, low humidity, limited air exposure, airtight containers, and regular checks give this chemical the best shot at a long, stable shelf life. People’s health and research integrity depend on nailing these details every single day.
2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol stands out on the lab bench for a reason. It shows up as a crystalline solid, often appearing white or just slightly off-white. The crystals tend to be fine and have a waxy texture when handled. Unlike many chemicals that turn powdery at room temperature, this compound stays more granular or flake-like, resisting the urge to cake even in a loosely capped bottle. If you open a jar, it has a distinctive chemical scent, sharp and slightly medicinal — a clear signal not to take a deep whiff.
Lab work requires strong familiarity with how substances behave as conditions change. In many cases, physical quirks give away purity or storage issues. 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol gives a consistent look, so unusual clumping, yellowing, or oily film can tip off the user to contamination or extended exposure to air.
This compound weighs in with a molecular weight of about 206.32 g/mol. Pick up a bottle, and it feels heavier than a sugar jar of the same size. What draws the most attention in industrial settings is its melting point: it melts at temperatures between 34 and 37 degrees Celsius. That’s right around the temperature of warm tap water, so a sunny windowsill in summer or a warm hand can soften those crystals. This low melting trait makes it useful for labs and manufacturing plants looking for compounds that process easily into mixtures or blends.
Another thing to watch: the boiling point runs high, around 253 degrees Celsius. That tells you it holds up under heat. Start heating a flask with it under normal atmospheric pressure and it won’t vaporize or decompose in a hurry, giving chemists leeway in synthesis projects that need steady heating.
2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol doesn’t dissolve so well in water. Water beads up on it, and hardly any dissolves, which keeps it from washing away by accident. The compound shows much better solubility in organic solvents — things like alcohols, ethers, and chloroform. In real-world work, this means it slides into oil-based mixtures with ease but won’t dilute in water-based systems.
Physical qualities do more than fill out a safety sheet. In an industrial setting, the fact that it’s stable, melts at a low temperature, and dissolves in organic solvents gives manufacturers solid reasons to use it as an antioxidant in lubricants and plastics. Fast melting means formulations stay smooth without clumps. Good stability under heat helps the compound last longer in hot-running equipment.
In my experience, storage counts for a lot. Proper sealing and keeping the compound out of strong light keeps appearance and performance steady. Failing to do so invites oxidation, and the crystals can yellow or turn sticky, which complicates handling and accuracy in dosing.
To keep workplaces safe, gloves and eye protection should come out before anyone reaches for 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol. Though it isn’t a volatile powder, repetitive or careless exposure poses skin and respiratory risks. Companies can help by training workers on safe transfer methods and proper ventilation.
Stability and low water solubility have good sides and drawbacks. Factories can reduce waste by storing the compound in air-tight, light-resistant containers. Engineers working on formulation improvement can look for companion chemicals that slow down oxidation — prolonging shelf life and performance. For health and environmental safety, inventing recovery or recycling processes for waste 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol cuts back on runoff and chemical load.
Connecting lab results to real-world conditions, the clear physical properties of 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol guide choices in packaging, blending, and worker safety strategies. Each detail—from its waxy feel to its low melting point—carries practical meaning for manufacturing, research, and everyday handling.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol |
| Other names |
2,6-Di-tert-butylphenol 2,6-Bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol 2,6-DTBP 2,6-DTB phenol DTBP |
| Pronunciation | /tuː,sɪks daɪ tɜːt ˈbʌtɪl fiːˈnɒl/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 128-39-2 |
| Beilstein Reference | 1908568 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:73361 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1426 |
| ChemSpider | 5507 |
| DrugBank | DB02197 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 03beb4f6-94cf-402f-9e5e-7dfefd6b99f2 |
| EC Number | 204-884-0 |
| Gmelin Reference | 77055 |
| KEGG | C06225 |
| MeSH | D017693 |
| PubChem CID | 82723 |
| RTECS number | SJ3325000 |
| UNII | L3988J876N |
| UN number | UN3077 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C14H22O |
| Molar mass | 206.32 g/mol |
| Appearance | White to off-white crystalline solid |
| Odor | Characteristic phenolic |
| Density | 0.895 g/mL at 25 °C |
| Solubility in water | insoluble |
| log P | 3.6 |
| Vapor pressure | 0.0002 mmHg (25 °C) |
| Acidity (pKa) | 18.0 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 10.79 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -47.6·10⁻⁶ cm³/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.022 |
| Viscosity | 2.4 cP (20°C) |
| Dipole moment | 1.98 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 395.7 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -328.8 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -6312.6 kJ/mol |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | C01EB07 |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Harmful if swallowed, causes skin and serious eye irritation, may cause allergic skin reaction, toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS07, GHS08 |
| Pictograms | GHS07,GHS09 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H315, H319, H410 |
| Precautionary statements | P210, P261, P273, P280, P305+P351+P338, P337+P313 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 2,2,0 |
| Flash point | 113 °C |
| Autoignition temperature | 510 °C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 (oral, rat): 971 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): Rat oral 830 mg/kg |
| NIOSH | SE6475000 |
| PEL (Permissible) | PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) of 2,6-Di-Tert-Butylphenol: "Not established |
| REL (Recommended) | 10 mg/m3 |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Phenol Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol 2,4,6-Tri-tert-butylphenol 2,6-Dimethylphenol |
