Dibutyl Ether - Sythesis

Sythesis

Dibutyl ether is obtained from dehydration of 1-butanol with sulfonic acid as a catalyst. If we add 1-butanol to large amount of fumic sulfonic acid and heat from 140 °C to 150 °C, the followed reaction will proceed.

2C₄H₁₀O + H₂SO₄ → C₈H₁₈O + H₂O

This method is along with side reactions such as formation of alkyl sulfonate (low temperature) and alkene (high temperature).

In the scale of industry, Dibutyl ether can be obtained by dehydration of 1-butanol on alumina at 300 °C.