Di-''tert''-butyl chromate is an

alkoxide In chemistry, an alkoxide is the conjugate base of an alcohol and therefore consists of an organic group bonded to a negatively charged oxygen atom. They are written as , where R is the organyl substituent. Alkoxides are strong bases and, whe ...

with the formula CrO₂(OC(CH₃)₃)₂. It forms red crystals at temperatures below −5 °C, above which it melts to give a red oil. The complex, which is diamagnetic, is of fundamental interest as a model for the intermediates in oxidations of alcohols by chromium(VI). This complex is stable because as a t-butyl groups lack beta-hydrogens. This complex and its analogues have tetrahedral geometry at chromium, as established by

X-ray crystallography X-ray crystallography is the experimental science of determining the atomic and molecular structure of a crystal, in which the crystalline structure causes a beam of incident X-rays to Diffraction, diffract in specific directions. By measuring th ...

of its analogues.

Preparation

It can be prepared from Tert-Butyl alcohol and Chromium Trioxide or Chromyl Chloride

Applications

It is used as a precursor to chromium-based catalysts, such as the Phillips catalyst, which are employed for the polymerization of

ethylene Ethylene (IUPAC name: ethene) is a hydrocarbon which has the formula or . It is a colourless, flammable gas with a faint "sweet and musky" odour when pure. It is the simplest alkene (a hydrocarbon with carbon–carbon bond, carbon–carbon doub ...

Safety

Like other forms of

hexavalent chromium Hexavalent chromium (chromium(VI), Cr(VI), chromium 6) is any chemical compound that contains the element chromium in the +6 oxidation state (thus hexavalent). It has been identified as carcinogenic, which is of concern since approximately of ...

, di-''tert''-butyl chromate is classified as a potential carcinogen by the United States

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, ) is the List of United States federal agencies, United States federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related occ ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Butyl chromate, tert- Chromates Tert-Butyl esters