| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name Benzyl(trimethyl)azanium hydroxide | |
| Other names Triton B, Trimethylbenzylammonium hydroxide, N,N,N-Trimethyl-1-phenylmethanaminium hydroxide | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.002.632 |
PubChem CID | |
| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
| |
| |
| Properties | |
| C10H17NO | |
| Molar mass | 167.252 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | Liquid, clear, slightly yellow |
| Density | 0.95 g/mL |
| Miscible in water | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, also known as Triton B or trimethylbenzylammonium hydroxide, is a quaternary ammonium salt that functions as an organic base. It is usually handled as a solution in water or methanol. The compound is colourless, although the solutions often appear yellowish. [1] Commercial samples often have a distinctive fish-like odour, presumably due to the presence of trimethylamine via hydrolysis.
Together with the benzyltriethylammonium salt, benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide is a popular phase-transfer catalyst. [2]
It is used in aldol condensation reactions and base-catalyzed dehydration reactions. It is also used as a base in Ando's Z-selective variant of Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons Olefination reactions. [3]
Relative to tetramethylammonium hydroxide, benzyltriethylammonium hydroxide is more labile. In 6M NaOH at 160 °C their half-lives are 61.9 and 4 h, respectively. [4]