What is sodium tertbutoxide?

Sodium tert-butoxide is a sodium salt of tert-butanol. It is a white to yellowish solid and is highly flammable. It is commonly used as a base in organic synthesis reactions to deprotonate acidic compounds. It is also used in the production of advanced materials such as polymers and as a catalyst for polymerization reactions. It has a strong alkaline property and can react violently with water or moisture, releasing highly flammable and explosive hydrogen gas. Therefore, it must be handled with care and stored in a dry and cool place.