Material Safety Data Sheet: Ethyl-2-Bromo Butyrate

Identification

Product Name: Ethyl-2-Bromo Butyrate
CAS Number: 7399-55-3
Synonyms: Ethyl 2-bromobutyrate, 2-Bromobutyric acid ethyl ester
Recommended Use: Chemical intermediate, pharmaceutical synthesis, research applications
Manufacturer’s Contact: Contact safety officer or quality control team at the supplier or production facility for detailed queries and MSDS updates.
Emergency Numbers: Refer to local poison control, company emergency hotline, or local fire department.

Hazard Identification

Classification: Skin irritant (Category 2), Eye irritant (Category 2A), Acute toxicity (Oral, Category 4)
Signal Word: Warning
Hazard Statements: Causes skin and eye irritation. Harmful if swallowed. May cause respiratory tract irritation.
Pictograms: Exclamation mark in diamond shape
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing vapors. Wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly after handling. Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, and eye/face protection. Use only in a well-ventilated area. Do not eat, drink, or smoke when using this product. If in eyes, rinse with water for at least 15 minutes and seek immediate medical advice.
Chronic Effects: Exposure over a prolonged period can lead to dermatitis or other allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Composition / Information on Ingredients

Chemical Name: Ethyl-2-Bromo Butyrate
CAS Number: 7399-55-3
Molecular Formula: C6H11BrO2
Concentration: Pure material typically over 97%
Impurities: Residual solvents, minute organic contaminants from production route, traces of byproducts depending on source. Typical impurities represent less than 2% by weight.

First Aid Measures

Inhalation: Move person to fresh air. Keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist, such as coughing, difficulty breathing, or drowsiness.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse skin immediately with plenty of water. Use soap to ensure thorough removal. Get medical attention if irritation develops or persists.
Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes, making sure to flush under eyelids. Remove contact lenses if possible. Continue rinsing and seek immediate medical attention.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth and do not induce vomiting unless directed by a medical professional. Seek immediate medical advice and show the MSDS if possible.
Note to Physician: Treat symptomatically. Monitor for respiratory distress and skin sensitization.

Fire-Fighting Measures

Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical, water spray, carbon dioxide, or foam. Select extinguishing agent suitable for surrounding materials.
Hazards from Combustion: During a fire, toxic bromine compounds and hydrogen bromide can form. These require proper personal protection and respiratory support for responders.
Special Protective Equipment: Firefighters should wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective clothing to prevent contact with skin and inhalation of gases.
Specific Hazards: Avoid inhaling fumes from combustion. Runoff from firefighting may pollute waterways or soil due to toxic byproducts.
Advice for Firefighters: Use water sprays to cool fire-exposed containers. Control runoff water to prevent environmental contamination.

Accidental Release Measures

Personal Precautions: Use chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, and suitable protective clothing. Ensure proper ventilation, or use appropriate respiratory protection.
Emergency Procedures: Evacuate personnel not involved in cleanup and restrict access to spill area.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent entry into sewers, drains, basements, or confined areas; report spills to municipal authorities where required.
Containment and Cleanup: Absorb spill with inert material such as sand or earth, then place in chemical waste container. Avoid creating dusty or vapor-laden conditions. Decontaminate affected area with water and detergent.
Disposal: Follow local regulations for hazardous waste disposal. Transfer recovered material to appropriate labeled containers for safe disposal.

Handling and Storage

Handling: Use in well-ventilated workspace, with appropriate fume extraction or localized suction. Avoid contact with skin, eyes, and clothing. Keep containers tightly closed when not in use. Clean up spills without delay using correct PPE.
Hygiene: Change work clothes after handling and wash hands thoroughly before eating, drinking, or smoking.
Storage: Store in cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from incompatible materials such as strong oxidizers and strong bases. Keep original container tightly sealed and clearly labeled. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight and sources of ignition. Segregate from foodstuffs and animal feed.

Exposure Controls and Personal Protection

Occupational Exposure Limits: Not specifically established for this compound according to OSHA, ACGIH, or NIOSH. As a guideline, treat with same precautions as other alkyl halides and reactive esters.
Engineering Controls: Use mechanical exhaust or fume hoods to minimize exposure to vapors. Facilities should have emergency eyewash stations and safety showers.
Personal Protective Equipment: Nitrile or butyl rubber gloves, lab coat or coveralls, chemical splash goggles, and, for potentially high vapor concentrations, a respirator with organic vapor cartridge.
Environmental Protection: Keep working solutions or spills contained. Prevent release into drains and the environment by using spill containment measures and secondary covers for storage.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: Clear to pale yellow liquid
Odor: Mild, characteristic ester odor
pH: Not applicable (non-aqueous liquid)
Melting Point/Freezing Point: Approximately -50°C
Boiling Point: Roughly 185–189°C at atmospheric pressure
Flash Point: About 76°C (closed cup)
Evaporation Rate: Not established
Flammability: Not classified as highly flammable but can ignite if exposed to open flame
Vapor Pressure: Low at 20°C
Density: 1.365 to 1.375 g/cm³ at 20°C
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water; miscible with most organic solvents
Partition Coefficient (log Kow): Estimated between 2 and 3; tends to bioaccumulate moderately in aquatic species
Viscosity: Low to moderate; flows readily at room temperature

Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability: Stable under normal handling and storage conditions in tightly sealed containers.
Reactivity: Can react with strong bases, strong oxidizing agents, and nucleophilic reagents leading to heat evolution or product decomposition.
Conditions to Avoid: Exposing the chemical to high temperatures, contact with open flames, and moisture for long periods can cause decomposition and hazardous vapors.
Decomposition Products: May liberate toxic fumes such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen bromide if heated to decomposition or involved in a fire.
Polymerization: No dangerous polymerization is expected under standard processing or storage.

Toxicological Information

Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, ingestion
Short-Term Effects: Skin and eye irritation, mild respiratory tract discomfort if vapor inhaled, gastrointestinal upset if swallowed
Long-Term Effects: Dermatitis or allergic skin reactions may develop with repeated contact. No evidence for carcinogenicity in available literature, but alkyl bromides may carry mutagenic potential.
Acute Toxicity (Oral): LD50 (rat): approximately 200–500 mg/kg
Irritation: Moderate to strong irritant to eyes and skin
Sensitization: May cause allergic skin reaction in people predisposed to sensitizers
Symptoms of Exposure: Redness, pain, itchiness on skin; watering, redness, or soreness of eyes; abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting after ingestion.

Ecological Information

Ecotoxicity: Toxic to aquatic organisms by disrupting cell membranes and enzyme activity, especially in fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Persistence and Degradability: Ester group hydrolyzes slowly in water; bromoalkane residue persists longer, so extended monitoring might be necessary for environmental releases.
Bioaccumulative Potential: Moderate, due to partitioning into lipid tissues.
Mobility in Soil: Limited water solubility causes the compound to bind to soil organic matter; moderate risk of groundwater contamination in sandy soils.
Other Adverse Effects: Decomposition forms, such as hydrogen bromide, can kill soil and aquatic microorganisms if contaminated runoff enters natural habitats.

Disposal Considerations

Waste Treatment Methods: Collect and store waste in tight, corrosion-resistant containers. Send for chemical incineration where possible in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations.
Do Not Dispose: Do not pour down drains, sewers, or open environment.
Contaminated Packaging: Rinse bottles or drums three times with ethanol before recycling or disposal; label all containers accurately.
Special Precautions: Coordinate with hazardous waste disposal contractor to handle byproducts and contaminated PPE.

Transport Information

UN Number: 2810
Proper Shipping Name: Toxic Liquid, Organic, N.O.S. (Ethyl-2-Bromo Butyrate)
Transport Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic substances)
Packing Group: III (low danger)
Labeling Requirements: Toxic substance label required for public transportation via road, rail, sea, or air.
Transport Precautions: Ship in original or approved containers, restrict handling to trained personnel, secure upright and away from foodstuffs or incompatible chemicals.
Marine Pollutant: Assess for local rules since many brominated compounds carry marine pollutant status.

Regulatory Information

OSHA Hazard Communication: This substance falls under Hazard Communication Standard, so clear labeling and access to the MSDS at points of use is essential.
US EPA TSCA Inventory: Listed
EU Regulation (REACH): Notify substance under REACH if annual volume exceeds 1 ton; observe SVHC status to ensure no restricted uses apply
Sara Title III – Section 302/304/313: Not listed in extremely hazardous substances, but report usage as a toxic chemical in certain manufacturing settings
WHMIS (Canada): Classified as D2B (toxic material causing other toxic effects)
Other National or Local Regulations: Refer to regional hazard symbols and worker right-to-know laws; updates or new regulations may apply as product usage in new industries expands.