tert-Butyl acetate, t-butyl acetate or TBAc is a colorless flammable liquid with a camphor- or blueberry-like smell. It is used as a solvent in the production of lacquers, enamels, inks, adhesives, thinners and industrial cleaners. It has recently gained EPA volatile organic compound (VOC) exempt status.[1]
It is manufactured from acetic acid and isobutylene. An attempt at Fischer esterification would lead to elimination of tert-butyl alcohol to isobutylene.
Butyl acetate has four isomers (or five, including stereoisomers): tert-butyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, and sec-butyl acetate (two enantiomers).