2-Methyloxetane

72.10570

72.11

2932999099

9.23000

0.79520

0.848 g/cm³ @ Temp: 20 °C

60 °C

59 °C

1.406

218 mm Hg at 25 deg C (est)

Henry's Law constant = 8.4X10-5 atm-cu m/mole at 25 °C (est)

LESS VOLATILE & MORE ODOROUS THAN ETHYLENE OXIDE OR PROPYLENE OXIDE /BUTYLENE OXIDES/|Water white liquids. Sweetish odor, somewhat like butyric acid and disagreeable. Boiling point = 54 °C. Melting point is less than -50 °C. Specific gravity = 0.815. Water solubility >= 10 g/100 g water at 25 °C. Miscible with aliphatic and aromatic solvents. Index of refraction = 1.378. Vapor density = 1.36 (Air= 1) /Butylene oxides/|Hydroxyl radical reaction rate constant = 7.3X10-12 cu cm/molec-sec at 25 °C (est)

Liquids are relatively stable.

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.|At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

BOGYO DA ET AL; INVESTIGATION OF SELECTED POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS: EPOXIDES; REPORT (EPA-560/11-80-005, TR-80-535, ORDER NO PB80-183197) 217 (1980). A REVIEW ON THE POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL & HEALTH HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF ETHYLENE OXIDE, PROPYLENE OXIDE, BUTYLENE OXIDE, & DIEPOXYBUTANE.

Butylene oxides are highly flammable...

SRP: The scientific literature for the use of contact lenses in industry is conflicting. The benefit or detrimental effects of wearing contact lenses depend not only upon the substance, but also on factors including the form of the substance, characteristics and duration of the exposure, the uses of other eye protection equipment, and the hygiene of the lenses. However, there may be individual substances whose irritating or corrosive properties are such that the wearing of contact lenses would be harmful to the eye. In those specific cases, contact lenses should not be worn. In any event, the usual eye protection equipment should be worn even when contact lenses are in place.|Same general precautions should be taken when handling butylene oxides as when handling ethylene oxide.

The straight chain mixed isomers of butylene oxide are primary irritants of the eyes and skin; however, skin irritation is not likely to follow vapor exposure alone. Although vapors are moderately anesthetic, the concentrations required are very disagreeable. The hazard from inhalation is not great. Excessive exposure to vapors would be expected to cause irritation of lung and its sequelae. /Butylene oxides/|Irritating nature of butylene oxide vapor makes it unlikely that persons would remain in acutely toxic concn for any length of time. /Butylene oxide/

| 2 - Materials that, under emergency conditions, can cause temporary incapacitation or residual injury.| 3 - Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions. Materials produce hazardous atmospheres with air under almost all ambient temperatures or, though unaffected by ambient temperatures, are readily ignited under almost all conditions.| 2 - Materials that readily undergo violent chemical changes at elevated temperatures and pressures.|W - No water: Materials that react violently or explosively with water.

1,3-Butylene oxide may be a minor constituent of other butylene oxides; their production and use in the manufacture of butylene glycols, gasoline additives, as acid scavengers, and stabilizers for chlorinated solvents may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams(1) may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams(SRC).

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 4(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that 1,3-butylene oxide is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of 1,3-butylene oxide from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 8.4X10-5 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), calculated using a fragment constant estimation method(3). The potential for volatilization of 1,3-butylene oxide from dry soil surfaces may exist(SRC) based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 218 mm Hg(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(4). Biodegradation data were not available(SRC, 2006); however, a similar compound, ethylene oxide is readily biodegradable in screening tests(5,6).|AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 4(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that 1,3-butylene oxide is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 8.4X10-5 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), developed using a fragment constant estimation method(4). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(3), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 7 hours and 6 days, respectively(SRC). According to a classification scheme(5), an estimated BCF of 3(SRC), from an estimated log Kow of 0.86(6) and a regression-derived equation(7), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Biodegradation data were not available(SRC, 2006); however, a similar low molecular weight epoxide (ethylene oxide) is biodegradable(8,9). 1,3-Butylene oxide is expected to hydrolyze, based on hydrolysis half-lives of 14 days and 9 days for ethylene oxide in freshwater and 3% saltwater, respectively at pH 7(9)|ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), 1,3-butylene oxide, which has an estimated vapor pressure of 218 mm Hg at 25 °C(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase 1,3-butylene oxide is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 2 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 7.3X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3).

The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of 1,3-butylene oxide with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals has been estimated as 7.3X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) using a structure estimation method(1). This corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of about 2 days at an atmospheric concentration of 5X10+5 hydroxyl radicals per cu cm(1). 1,3-Butylene oxide contains an epoxide functional group which may be susceptible to hydrolysis(2,3), but the rate of this reaction is not known for 1,3-butylene oxide. The hydrolysis half-life of ethylene oxide in river water (pH 7.4) was about 14 days and was 9 days in 3% salt water at pH 7 and 25 °C(4).

An estimated BCF of 3 was calculated for 1,3-butylene oxide(SRC), using an estimated log Kow of 0.86(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC).

Using a structure estimation method based on molecular connectivity indices(1), the Koc for 1,3-butylene oxide can be estimated to be 4(SRC). According to a classification scheme(2), this estimated Koc value suggests that 1,3-butylene oxide is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC).

The Henry's Law constant for 1,3-butylene oxide is estimated as 8.4X10-5 atm-cu m/mole(SRC) using a fragment constant estimation method(1). This Henry's Law constant indicates that 1,3-butylene oxide is expected to volatilize from water surfaces(2). Based on this Henry's Law constant, the volatilization half-life from a model river (1 m deep, flowing 1 m/sec, wind velocity of 3 m/sec)(2) is estimated as 7 hours(SRC). The volatilization half-life from a model lake (1 m deep, flowing 0.05 m/sec, wind velocity of 0.5 m/sec)(2) is estimated as 6 days(SRC). 1,3-Butylene oxide's Henry's Law constant indicates that volatilization from moist soil surfaces may occur(SRC). The potential for volatilization of 1,3-butylene oxide from dry soil surfaces may exist(SRC) based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 218 mm Hg(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(3).

NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has statistically estimated that 4,521 workers (2,537 of these are female) are potentially exposed to butylene oxides in the US(1). Occupational exposure to butylene oxides may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where it is produced or used(SRC).|IRRITATING NATURE OF BUTYLENE OXIDE VAPOR MAKES IT UNLIKELY THAT PERSONS WOULD REMAIN IN ACUTELY TOXIC CONCN FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. ... /IT WAS/ ... SUGGESTED THAT LITTLE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY SEEMS TO EXIST IF VAPOR CONCN ... KEPT BELOW 400 PPM. /BUTYLENE OXIDE/

Apparently butylene oxide is not absorbed through skin in amounts sufficient to cause systemic effects.

Groups of industrial and lab chemicals were tested for their alkylation activity using 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)pyridine and deoxyguanosine as nucleophiles. The alkylation activity was compared with mutagenicity of the chemicals to Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA without metabolic activation. All the epoxide-containing compounds including simple epoxides and glycidyl ethers elicited alkylation activity and mutagenicity. There was a reasonable correlation between the rate of alkylation and mutagenic potency. All the methylating and ethylating compounds tested were active but no correlation was observed between rate of alkylation and mutagenic potency, apparently due to the different types of alkylation products formed. There was no evidence among the chemicals tested of an alkylating nonmutagen. Thus, evidence of alkylation activity appears to indicate mutagenic risk. /Epoxides/

Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway. Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if necessary. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with normal saline during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 ml/kg up to 200 ml of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool. Administer activated charcoal ... . Cover skin burns with sterile dressings after decontamination ... . /Ethylene oxide and related compounds/|Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious or has severe pulmonary edema. Positive-pressure ventilation techniques with a bag-valve-mask device may be beneficial. Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias if necessary. Start an IV with D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use lactated Ringer's if signs of hypovolemia are present. Watch for signs of fluid overload. Treat seizures with diazepam (Valium) ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Ethylene oxide and related compounds/

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Pain, conjunctival irritation, and transient corneal injury may be expected from ... /ocular applications of liquid/ in humans.|/OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ The hazard to health of butylene oxides is not as great as for either ethylene oxide or propylene oxide. They are less volatile, more odorous, and less toxic. Excessive exposure, however, can result in eye, skin, and respiratory injury. ... The toxicological information available on the butylene oxides has been derived from studies on mixed isomers.