N-Butylpyridinium Dicyanamide stands out as a functional ionic liquid in chemical applications. This compound brings together the bulky, organic N-butylpyridinium cation and the dicyanamide anion, creating a substance that chemical engineers, researchers, and material specialists talk about for a good reason. The unique pairing delivers a blend of low melting point and solid state stability that’s hard to find elsewhere. Chemists often use it in pure solid form, but it also dissolves in various polar solvents, adding flexibility in lab and industrial tasks.
Take a look at its structure: the N-butyl side chain branches off a pyridine ring, while the anion, dicyanamide (N(CN)2-), offers high thermal stability and moderate basicity. The molecular formula for N-Butylpyridinium Dicyanamide comes out as C9H13N5. Most samples show up either as solid, flaky crystals, pearly particles, fine powder, or dense, clear liquid under different conditions – density tends to hover around 1.02-1.07 g/cm3 at room temperature, though some batches pack a bit more depending on purity.
Chemists check product specs like melting point and viscosity since these give clues about purity and suggested handling. Melting points will often fall below 60°C, sometimes as low as 35°C for pure batches, which means these “solids” can become liquids at room temperature if you’re working in a warm environment. Viscosity gives practical readings that affect mixing, pouring, and measuring, so nobody gets surprise spills in the middle of an experiment or synthetic run.
A product like N-Butylpyridinium Dicyanamide appears under the HS code 2933.39, identifying it as a heterocyclic compound with nitrogen hetero-atoms. Manufacturers rely on bulk quantities of pyridine, bromobutane, and dicyandiamide to put together commercial-scale volumes of the substance. These raw materials come through standard supply chains, with extra attention on minimizing contaminants. Purity levels often exceed 98%, since trace impurities shake up the physical and chemical behavior enough to throw off sensitive projects.
Holding N-Butylpyridinium Dicyanamide in your hand, you’ll notice it can look like white, off-white, or even pale yellow crystals or powder, depending on how dry it is and how clean the process equipment stays. Sometimes large flakes or small pearls form, which can help during transfer or weighing. For liquid applications, solutions can run clear or faintly yellow. The material’s high solubility in water, methanol, and acetonitrile helps when designing reactions or separations that need ionic conductivity or quick dissolution. Because of its broad range – solid, powder, pearl, liquid, and crystalline forms – it suits both bench-level research and full-scale material science batches.
Workers have to keep safety on their minds when handling any dicyanamide salt. N-Butylpyridinium Dicyanamide tends to raise questions around its dicyanamide group, which in some forms can release hazardous fumes or turn toxic during decomposition. Standard chemical safety sheets call it an irritant, flagging potential harm if inhaled, swallowed, or brought in contact with skin. Closed shoes, gloves, goggles, and lab coats stay on even if the sample looks harmless. Even limited evidence of acute toxicity means industry labs store this compound away from food, avoid exposure to heat or open flames, and use chemical fume hoods during any bulk operation. It’s not just good practice; it’s common sense. Emergency showers, careful waste disposal, and spill kits belong wherever people use or store hazardous ionic liquids.
N-Butylpyridinium Dicyanamide pulls weight in several industries. Labs studying green chemistry see potential in the compound’s role as a replacement for volatile organic solvents. Electrochemical studies use it as an electrolyte or a medium for conducting ions with little vapor pressure—crucial for safe, stable battery environments. This compound’s thermal stability turns important when synthesis temperatures creep above the norm. In organic synthesis, it acts as a catalyst or reaction media, especially for exploring new, cleaner reaction pathways.
From personal experience, handling N-Butylpyridinium Dicyanamide is easier than dealing with many traditional salts. Its low volatility means less chemical odor and no heavy vapors filling the air. It wiped away any worries about breathing difficulties or masked odors in our crowded college lab—after years of working with more aggressive reagents, this was a welcome change. Despite advantages, the push for more data on chronic exposure and biodegradation remains crucial, especially as industries ramp up scale. Open communication among scientists, material safety experts, and suppliers helps build the trust needed for real-world adoption.
Clear guidelines support anyone using N-Butylpyridinium Dicyanamide. Businesses take time to train new hires, investing in up-to-date hazard communication and hands-on safety drills. Chemical suppliers publish certificates of analysis and encourage feedback from users facing quality hiccups. Regulations around chemical storage and labeling stay strict, so even small research groups find themselves following the same playbook as global Fortune 500 companies. Disposal routes go through official hazardous waste channels, not down the drain or with regular trash. Above all, folks pay attention to their own experiences—if a process looks risky, they stop, rethink, and fix the problem.
| Property | Value / Description |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name | N-Butylpyridinium Dicyanamide |
| Molecular Formula | C9H13N5 |
| Molecular Weight | 187.24 g/mol |
| Physical State | Crystal, flakes, powder, pearls, liquid |
| Color | White to pale yellow |
| Density | 1.02 - 1.07 g/cm3 (20°C) |
| Melting Point | 35-60°C |
| HS Code | 2933.39 |
| Hazard | Irritant; harmful if inhaled, swallowed, or contacted with skin |
| Solubility | Water, methanol, acetonitrile |
