In addition to being cheap, tetrabutylammonium bromide is also environmentally friendly, has a greater degree of selectivity, is operationally simple, non-corrosive, and can be recycled easily as well.[5]
Tetrabutylammonium bromide is used to prepare other salts of the tetrabutylammonium cation by salt metathesis reactions.[6]
It serves as a source of bromide ions for substitution reactions. It is a commonly used phase transfer catalyst. As its melting point is just over 100 °C and decreases in the presence of other reagents, it can be considered an ionic liquid.[2]
Role in semi-clathrate formation
TBAB is being extensively studied as a thermodynamic promoter in the formation of semi-clathrate hydrates which greatly brings down the pressure - temperature requirement for forming gas hydrates.[7]
^Chary, M.V.; Keerthysri, N.C.; Vupallapati, S.V.N.; Lingaiah, N.; Kantevari, S. (2008). "Tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) in isopropanol: An efficient, novel, neutral and recyclable catalytic system for the synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles". Catal. Commun. 9 (10): 2013–2017. doi:10.1016/j.catcom.2008.03.037.
^Klemperer, W. G. (1990). "Tetrabutylammonium Isopolyoxometalates". Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. 27. pp. 74–85. doi:10.1002/9780470132586.ch15. ISBN9780470132586., Bojes, J.; Chivers, T.; Drummond, I. (1978). "Heptathiazocine(Heptasulfurimide) and Tetrabutylammonium Tetrathionitrate". Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. 18. pp. 203–206. doi:10.1002/9780470132494.ch36. ISBN9780470132494., Ceriotti, A.; Longoni, G.; Marchionna, M. (1989). "Bis(Tetrabutylammonium) Hexa-μ-Carbonyl-Hexacarbonylhexaplatinate(2 -), [N(C 4 H 9 ) 4 ] 2 [Pt 6 (Co) 6 (μ-Co) 6 ]". Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. 26. pp. 316–319. doi:10.1002/9780470132579.ch57. ISBN978-0-471-50485-6.;Christou, George; Garner, C. David; Balasubramaniam, A.; Ridge, Brian; Rydon, H. N. (1982). "9. Tetranuclear Iron-Sulfur and Iron-Selenium Clusters". Tetranuclear Iron-Sulfur and Iron-Selenium Clusters. Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. 21. pp. 33–37. doi:10.1002/9780470132524.ch9. ISBN9780470132524..