Kaliumtertiäärin

Kaliumtertiäärin, also known as potassium tert-butoxide or potassium t-butoxide, is a strong, non-nucleophilic base with the chemical formula (CH3)3COK. It is the potassium salt of tert-butyl alcohol. Its unique structure, with the bulky tert-butyl group, makes it a valuable reagent in organic synthesis.

The tert-butoxide anion is sterically hindered, meaning it is difficult for it to attack electrophilic centers in a nucleophilic manner. This characteristic allows it to act as a strong base, readily abstracting protons from acidic compounds, without participating in unwanted side reactions like nucleophilic addition or substitution. This property is crucial in reactions where a strong base is needed to initiate a reaction without interfering with other functional groups.

Kaliumtertiäärin is commonly used in dehydrohalogenation reactions to form alkenes, in aldol condensations, and in various elimination reactions. It is also employed in the synthesis of more complex organic molecules. Due to its strong basicity and reactivity with moisture and carbon dioxide, it is typically stored under an inert atmosphere and handled with care. It is commercially available as a solid, often a white crystalline powder, and is soluble in many organic solvents.