Questions for the Experts. Alcohols

Topic created by SecretivePerson
on Sun, 19 Oct 2025 at 18:44

SecretivePerson said on Sun, 19 Oct 2025 at 18:44...

I have been looking into nitrite synthesis, just gathering information at the moment.

I could use a little help with some clarification or experience.

Generally there are 5 types of Nitrites
A -Amyl Nitrite aka isoamyl nitrite, isopentyl nitrite
B -Butyl Nitrite aka n-butyl nitrite
C -Pentyl Nitrite aka n-pentyl nitrite
D -Isobutyl Nitrite aka 2-methylpropyl nitrite
E -Isopropyl Nitrite aka 2-propyl nitrite

The base reactants/reagents are the same but the alcohols used are different.
The synthesis varies with different alcohols but remains similar...

The Alcohols, I am not exactly confused but keep finding more and more variations used. I am looking for more clarity on which alcohol is used to make which Nitrite and which are better choices.

1 - Isopropyl Alcohol (C3H8O) (Isopropanol), = E - Isopropyl Nitrite . Not a well regarded Nitrite.

The other alcohols, I am listing some of the common synonyms.

2 - Isobutyl Alcohol ((CH3) 2CHCH 2OH) or (C4H10O) (Isobutanol) (2-Methyl-1-Propanol) = D - Isobutyl Nitrite ?

3 - Sec-Butyl Alcohol (C4H10O) or ((CH3) 2CHCH 2OH) (Sec-Butanol) (2-Butanol) (Butan-2-ol)

4 - Tert-Butyl Alcohol (C4H10O) or ((CH3) 3COH) (T-Butyl) (Tert-Butanol) (2-Methyl-2-Propynol) (2-Methylpropan-2-ol)

5 - N-Butyl Alcohol (C4H10O) or (C4H9OH) or (CH3 (CH2) 3OH) (1-Butanol) (Butan-1-ol) (N-Butanol) (Butyl Alcohol)

6 - Pentyl Alcohol (C5H11OH) or (C5H12O) (1-Pentanol) (Pentant-1-ol) (Amyl Alcohol) (N-Amyl Alcohol)

7 - Isopentyl Alcohol ((CH3) 2CHCH2CH2OH) or (C5H12O) (Isoamyl alcohol) (3-Methyl-1-butanol) (3-Methylbutan-1-ol) (Isobutycarbinol)

8 -Tertiary Amyl Alcohol (C5H12O) (2-Methyl-2-Butanol) (2-Methylbutan-2-ol) (Tert-Amyl Alcohol) (Amylene Hydrate)

Could use some clarification on alcohols numbers 2 through 8, such as which nitrite they result in and which are better choices and which should not be used.

@SecretivePerson said on Tue, 25 Nov 2025 at 17:27...

I am by no means a chemist, but I have been synthesizing my own poppers now for a good 10 years, so let me share my mental map for this:

The most straightforward way to think about it is based on the number of carbon atoms present in the alcohol.

1 atom: Metyl
2 atoms: Etyl
3 atoms: Propyl
4 atoms: Butyl
5 atoms: Pentyl (also called Amyl, they are the same thing)
6 atoms: Hexyl

and so on.

When you have more than 2 carbon atoms in the alcohol, they can be linked as a chain, or they can split in a Y shaped molecule. That's where the "iso" comes from. So:

Propyl: 3 carbon atoms linked in a chain
Iso-Propyl: 3 carbon atoms linked in a Y shape.

The less carbon atoms in the alcohol, the more volatile the final product is. I guess this is why you never see poppers made from Metyl or Etyl alcohol. I guess after Hexyl it becomes too heavy, so you don't see those either.

As for their use, the number of carbon atoms and consequently the "weight" of the molecule offers for me a perfect explanation as to how the act in the body. Propyl hits you like a brick, and lasts very shortly. Pentyl is very smooth and long lasting. Maybe it has nothing to do with the weight of the molecule, but that's how I've come to think about it.

I would love to hear from chemists if what I just said makes sense.