Is n-butyl acetate the same as isobutyl or sec-butyl acetate?
No. n-Butyl acetate is CAS 123-86-4. Isobutyl acetate (110-19-0) and sec-butyl acetate (105-46-4) are isomers with different CAS numbers, and butyl cellosolve acetate is a different product. The CAS number is the check that works: confirm it on the quote, TDS and SDS. The isomer CAS numbers are general chemistry knowledge.
- n-Butyl acetate is CAS 123-86-4. The name 'butyl acetate' on a listing does not guarantee that CAS number.
- Isobutyl and sec-butyl acetate are isomers, not substitutes. Butyl cellosolve acetate is a glycol ether acetate and a separate product.
- Confirm the CAS number on the quote, the TDS and the SDS, then confirm the HSN code and UN number.
- Our butyl acetate page covers n-butyl acetate only: 99.5 % w/w min, grade per TDS: ASTM D4615.
Why the butyl acetate names get mixed up
Search for butyl acetate and you will find listings for several different esters under one heading. Some say 'butyl acetate', some say 'n-butyl acetate', some say 'isobutyl acetate', and some bundle in 'butyl cellosolve acetate' because the word 'butyl' appears in every name. To a purchase officer in a paint or ink plant, they look interchangeable. To a formulator, they are not: a recipe written around one does not automatically accept another.
The practical cure is to stop relying on the trade name and rely on the CAS number. Names vary by supplier, region and language. A CAS number identifies one substance. If you are new to reading these, our CAS numbers procurement guide explains how to use them on a purchase order.
The butyl acetate family at a glance
| Name | CAS number | What it is | Our position |
|---|---|---|---|
| n-Butyl acetate (n-BAC, NBAC, butyl ethanoate) | 123-86-4 | Straight-chain butyl ester of acetic acid | Supplied |
| Isobutyl acetate | 110-19-0 (general knowledge) | Branched-chain isomer | Not our butyl acetate product |
| sec-Butyl acetate | 105-46-4 (general knowledge) | Branched-chain isomer | Not our butyl acetate product |
| Butyl cellosolve acetate (2-butoxyethyl acetate) | 112-07-2 (as on our product page) | Glycol ether acetate | Separate product page |
Source: n-butyl acetate row and the butyl cellosolve acetate CAS from our product data. The isomer rows and the 'what it is' descriptions are general chemistry knowledge, not an SPC specification.
What 'butyl acetate' means on our site
When we say butyl acetate, we mean n-butyl acetate. The identifiers in our records are consistent across the catalogue, the technical data sheet and the safety data sheet:
| Identifier | Value |
|---|---|
| CAS number | 123-86-4 |
| EC number | 204-658-1 |
| HSN code | 2915 33 00 |
| UN number / class / packing group | UN 1123 / Class 3 / III |
| Other names we recognise | n-BAC, NBAC, butyl ethanoate |
| Grade | Grade per TDS: ASTM D4615 (TDS title: Solvent Grade) |
| Limits | Purity 99.5 % w/w min; water 0.10 % max; acidity as acetic acid 0.01 % max; colour 10 APHA max |
| Technical data sheet | SPC-TDS-EST-003 |
Source: TDS SPC-TDS-EST-003, SDS sections 1, 3 and 14, and the site's HSN register.
We are a trader, importer and distributor; we do not manufacture it. The makers named in the TDS are Laxmi Organic Industries Ltd (Mahad, Raigad, Maharashtra, India) and Taixing Jinjiang Chemical Industry Co., Ltd (Jiangsu, China).
Isobutyl and sec-butyl acetate: same formula, different chemical
n-Butyl, isobutyl and sec-butyl acetate share a molecular formula. What differs is how the four carbons of the butyl group are arranged: in a straight chain for n-butyl, with a branch for the others. That structural difference shifts boiling point, evaporation rate and odour slightly. For a specification written around n-butyl acetate, the difference is a deviation that someone has to approve. This paragraph is general chemistry knowledge, not an SPC specification.
One more reason to check: the UN 1123 entry is a group entry under the proper shipping name BUTYL ACETATES (SDS section 14), so as general knowledge the UN number alone does not tell you which isomer you have. The CAS number remains the dependable identifier.
Butyl cellosolve acetate is a different family
Butyl cellosolve acetate is 2-butoxyethyl acetate (CAS 112-07-2 as recorded on our product page). As general chemistry knowledge, it is a glycol ether acetate, a much slower-evaporating, higher-boiling solvent than n-butyl acetate, and is specified in different places in a formulation. Because it carries 'butyl' and 'acetate' in the name, some marketplace listings group it with butyl acetate. We list it separately as Butyl Cellosolve Acetate.
How to check a quote, a TDS or an SDS
- Read the CAS number first. For n-butyl acetate it must read 123-86-4. If the document gives no CAS number, ask for one before you approve anything.
- Check the full chemical name. 'n-Butyl acetate' or 'butyl ethanoate' is consistent with 123-86-4. 'Isobutyl' or 'sec-butyl' is not.
- Check the HSN code. Our records give 2915 33 00 for n-butyl acetate. Confirm duty and tax treatment with your own adviser.
- Check the grade statement. Our material's grade per TDS is ASTM D4615. It is not food grade or pharma grade.
- Check the assay and the water limit. Purity 99.5 % w/w min and water 0.10 % w/w max are the TDS limits.
- Check the Certificate of Analysis on receipt. A batch Certificate of Analysis is supplied with every delivery. Match its CAS number, assay and water to the TDS.
Reading the safety document properly is part of this check; the guide to reading an MSDS or SDS walks through the sections that matter for purchasing.
What to write on an enquiry so the right ester arrives
Write the product line the way a TDS would: 'n-Butyl acetate, CAS 123-86-4, grade per TDS: ASTM D4615'. Add the quantity, pack, delivery location and documents you need, and we quote within 4 working hours. Packs, makers and the full enquiry steps are on the butyl acetate product page.
Related reading and products
- Ethyl Acetate: compare evaporation behaviour in our guide on slow ester solvents for coatings.
- Butanol (NBA): the straight-chain alcohol from which butyl esters such as n-butyl acetate are made (general knowledge).
Frequently asked questions
Is butyl acetate the same as n-butyl acetate?
On our site, yes: butyl acetate means n-butyl acetate, CAS 123-86-4. In the wider market the shorter name is sometimes used loosely, which is why the CAS number should be on every quote.
Can isobutyl acetate replace n-butyl acetate?
Only if your formulation allows it. They are different chemicals with different CAS numbers, and changing the solvent changes evaporation behaviour. Ask your formulator before accepting a substitute.