Perfiuoroisobutylene Chemical Properties

Melting point:

-130°C

Boiling point:

-3°C (estimate)

Density 

1.5231 (rough estimate)

refractive index 

1.2600 (estimate)

form 

A gas at room temp

EPA Substance Registry System

1-Propene, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)- (382-21-8)

Safety Information

RIDADR 

3162

HazardClass 

2.3

Hazardous Substances Data

382-21-8(Hazardous Substances Data)

Toxicity

LC50 ihl-rat: 500 ppb/6H 34ZIAG -,310,69

Perfiuoroisobutylene Usage And Synthesis

Description

Perfluoroisobutylene (PFIB) is a schedule 2A substance under the Chemical Weapons Convention, which means that while it has significant ability to be used as a chemical weapon, it also serves various other industrial uses.

Uses

Perfluoroisobutylene or perfluoroisobutene is a monomer used in synthesis of Teflon and other polymeric materials. It is also used in etching for semiconductor fabrication, and is potentially used as a chemical warfare agent. The US Food and Drug Administration’s CFR 21 Section 173.360 allows for use of octafluorocyclobutane as a propellant and also allows for PFIB at a level of <.01% as an impurity in formulation.

Synthesis Reference(s)

Journal of the American Chemical Society, 75, p. 2698, 1953 DOI: 10.1021/ja01107a044

Safety Profile

A deadly poison by inhalation. Askin, eye, and mucous membrane irritant. Human acuteexposure causes marked irritation of conjunctivae, throat,and lungs. When heated to decompos

Environmental Fate

PFIB exists as a gas in the atmosphere, and is degraded by reaction with hydroxyl radicals, with a reaction half-life of ~5.7 days. PFIB is not susceptible to significant photolysis. The Henry’s law constant of PFIB suggests volatization as an important fate process. The half lives for volatization calculated from a model lake and river were 5.6 days and 4.1 h, respectively, though a small portion will adsorb to suspended solids and sediment. PFIB can also volatize substantially from moist soils, and to a small degree from dry soils.

Toxicity evaluation

PFIB is a strong electrophile that reacts with nucleophiles. The toxicity of PFIB may be correlated with its susceptibility to nucleophilic attack and the generation of reactive intermediates.

Toxics Screening Level

The ITSL for perfluoroisobutylene is 0.8 μg/m3 based on a 1-hour averaging time.

Perfiuoroisobutylene(382-21-8)Related Product Information

• Isobutylene