5-T-BUTYL-2,4,6-TRINITRO-M-XYLENE

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene is a synthetic aromatic nitro compound belonging to the nitro musk family and is widely known by the common name Musk xylene.
The molecule contains a benzene ring bearing a tert-butyl group, two methyl groups, and three nitro groups, producing a highly substituted aromatic structure with a characteristic musk-like odour.
Historically important as a fragrance and perfume-fixative material, 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene is now particularly relevant to analytical chemistry, environmental monitoring, reference-material work, regulatory testing, and specialised chemical research because its commercial fragrance use has been substantially restricted.

CHEMICAL IDENTITY AND COMMON NAMES

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene is the substance commonly known as Musk xylene or Musk xylol.
The systematic structure is represented by a tert-butyl group and two methyl groups occupying the remaining non-nitrated positions of a trinitrobenzene ring.

Musk xylene is one member of the historical nitro musk group and should not be confused with Musk ketone, Musk ambrette, Moskene, or other synthetic musks.
These materials differ in substitution pattern, molecular formula, physical characteristics, environmental behaviour, and regulatory status.

The term “xylene” in the common name refers to the two methyl substituents on the aromatic ring rather than to conventional commercial xylene solvent.
5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene is therefore a crystalline substituted nitroaromatic compound rather than a xylene solvent isomer.

Synonyms and Common Names: Musk xylene, Musk xylol, Xylene musk, 5-tert-Butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene, 5-t-Butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene, m-Xylene, 5-tert-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-, 1-tert-Butyl-3,5-dimethyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene, Benzene, 1-tert-butyl-3,5-dimethyl-2,4,6-trinitro-, Benzene, 1-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3,5-dimethyl-2,4,6-trinitro-, 1-(1,1-Dimethylethyl)-3,5-dimethyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene, 2,4,6-Trinitro-1,3-dimethyl-5-tert-butylbenzene, 2,4,6-Trinitro-1,3-dimethyl-5-t-butylbenzene, 2,4,6-Trinitro-3,5-dimethyl-tert-butylbenzene, 2,4,6-Trinitro-3,5-dimethyl-1-tert-butylbenzene, 2,4,6-Trinitro-5-tert-butyl-m-xylene, 5-tert-Butyl-2,4,6-trinitroxylene, 5-tert-Butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-meta-xylene, tert-Butyl-trinitro-xylene, NSC 59844

TECHNICAL IDENTIFICATION

CAS Number: 81-15-2
EC / EINECS Number: 201-329-4
Molecular Formula: C12H15N3O6
Molar Mass: 297.26 g/mol
Chemical Class: Nitroaromatic compound
Functional Class: Nitro musk
PubChem CID: 62329
UN Number: 2956

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Appearance: Pale yellow to yellow crystalline solid or powder
Physical State: Solid
Odour: Characteristic strong musk-like odour
Molecular Formula: C12H15N3O6
Molar Mass: 297.26 g/mol
Melting Point: Approximately 112–114 °C for the commonly reported stable crystalline form
Water Solubility: Approximately 0.15 mg/L
Vapour Pressure: Approximately 0.00003 Pa at 20 °C
Log Kow: Approximately 4.9
Volatility: Very low at ambient temperature
Water Affinity: Very low
Lipophilicity: High
Environmental Character: Very persistent and very bioaccumulative
Chemical Structure: Highly substituted trinitroaromatic compound
Thermal Behaviour: Decomposition and hazardous energetic behaviour can occur under severe heating or confinement
Solubility Characteristics: Appreciably more soluble in suitable organic solvents and lipid media than in water

The extremely low vapour pressure of 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene means that direct volatilization is limited at normal ambient temperature.
Its characteristic odour can nevertheless be perceptible at low concentration because musk materials are selected specifically for strong olfactory activity.

The low water solubility and high octanol-water partition coefficient indicate pronounced hydrophobic and lipophilic behaviour.
These characteristics are directly relevant to extraction procedures, analytical sample preparation, environmental partitioning, bioaccumulation, and selection of solvents for laboratory work.

Crystalline behaviour is also relevant to identification and quality assessment.
Different reported crystalline forms can exhibit somewhat different melting behaviour, while the stable form is generally associated with a melting range around 112–114 °C.

The three nitro groups substantially influence the electronic character and thermal behaviour of the aromatic ring.
The highly nitrated structure also requires special attention to heat, confinement, impact-related process conditions, and packaging design even though 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene is transported under a dedicated Class 4.1 entry rather than as a conventional Class 1 explosive.

FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

The principal historical functional characteristic of 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene is its strong, persistent musk-like odour.
The bulky tert-butyl group, methyl substituents, and nitro groups create the molecular architecture responsible for its characteristic nitro-musk fragrance profile.

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene was valued particularly as a fragrance fixative because its low volatility allows its odour contribution to persist substantially longer than that of many more volatile perfume components.
This persistence historically supported its use in perfume compositions, soaps, detergents, cosmetic preparations, and fragranced household products.

The same hydrophobicity that contributes to substantivity in fragranced materials is important environmentally.
5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene partitions strongly into organic phases and biological lipid compartments and has therefore received extensive attention in environmental fate and bioaccumulation studies.

The three aromatic nitro groups also provide characteristic mass-spectrometric and chromatographic behaviour.
This makes 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene readily identifiable using modern analytical techniques and useful as a target analyte and reference material in environmental and product-monitoring laboratories.

Partial reduction of individual nitro groups produces amino and related transformation products.
Measurement of these metabolites and degradation products is important in studies of wastewater treatment, environmental transformation, biological metabolism, and the fate of historical nitro-musk contamination.

PRODUCTION AND COMMERCIAL FORM

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene has historically been manufactured from a tert-butyl-substituted meta-xylene aromatic precursor followed by controlled formation of the trinitro-substituted ring system.
Industrial manufacture requires process controls appropriate to highly nitrated aromatic materials because reaction exothermicity, thermal stability, and confinement are important safety considerations.

The purified product is obtained as a crystalline solid.
Commercial physical forms have historically included crystals, flakes, and powders selected according to processing, handling, and packaging requirements.

Current commercial demand differs substantially from the historical fragrance market.
5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene is particularly relevant today in analytical standards, environmental testing, research, toxicological investigation, regulatory work, and specialised chemical applications.

High-purity analytical material may be supplied as neat crystalline substance or as accurately prepared solutions for chromatographic analysis.
Reference solutions are particularly useful when direct weighing of very small quantities is unnecessary or when a laboratory method requires standardized calibration concentrations.

HISTORICAL FRAGRANCE APPLICATIONS

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene was historically one of the most important synthetic nitro musk fragrance materials.
Its strong musk character provided an economical alternative to natural musk and enabled consistent fragrance formulation on an industrial scale.

Perfume formulations used 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene principally for its persistent base-note character.
Its very low volatility helped extend the perceived fragrance profile after more volatile top and middle notes had evaporated.

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene also found historical application in eau de toilette, fragranced cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, deodorant products, detergents, household cleaning products, and air-care formulations.
The material provided both musk odour and fragrance-fixative effects in these applications.

Use in modern fragrance manufacture has declined dramatically because of environmental persistence, bioaccumulation concerns, regulatory controls, and replacement by alternative musk chemistries.
Historical fragrance use therefore remains important for understanding environmental occurrence and analytical monitoring even where new commercial formulation has been discontinued or restricted.

PERFUME AND FRAGRANCE RESEARCH

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene remains technically important in fragrance research as a representative nitro musk.
Its odour profile, physicochemical behaviour, persistence, and historical formulation role provide a reference point when comparing generations of synthetic musk materials.

Researchers can use 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene when studying relationships between molecular structure and musk odour.
Comparison with nitro musks, polycyclic musks, macrocyclic musks, and newer fragrance molecules helps clarify the effects of molecular size, shape, polarity, and functional groups on olfactory performance.

Historical perfume and consumer-product samples can also be investigated for the presence of 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene.
Detection may assist in compositional research, product-age characterization, exposure assessment, and studies of changes in fragrance formulation over time.

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

Environmental monitoring is an important contemporary application area for 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene reference materials.
Its persistence and historical use have resulted in analytical interest in wastewater, surface water, sediment, sludge, soil, biota, and other environmental matrices.

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene can be measured using gas chromatographic methods combined with selective detectors or mass spectrometry.
High-purity reference material enables calibration, retention-time confirmation, mass-spectral confirmation, recovery studies, and quantitative method validation.

The low environmental concentrations commonly encountered make analytical quality particularly important.
Reference standards with well-characterized identity and purity support accurate measurement at trace and ultra-trace levels.

Environmental laboratories may analyze 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene together with Musk ketone and polycyclic musk compounds.
Multi-analyte methods allow assessment of historical and contemporary synthetic-musk contamination within the same sample.

WASTEWATER AND SEWAGE-SLUDGE MONITORING

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene has been investigated extensively in wastewater because fragranced consumer products historically provided a pathway into municipal sewage systems.
Its hydrophobic character promotes association with suspended solids and sludge as well as partitioning into organic matter.

Wastewater-treatment research examines removal, transformation, sorption, and degradation of 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene.
Analytical measurement before and after treatment can help establish removal efficiency and identify the processes responsible for changes in concentration.

Activated sludge and anaerobic environments can generate partially reduced transformation products.
Analytical programmes may therefore measure both the original 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene and amino derivatives formed through nitro-group reduction.

Sludge analysis is particularly relevant because lipophilic organic contaminants can become concentrated in the solid phase.
Accurate standards allow laboratories to distinguish actual removal by degradation from simple transfer between aqueous and solid compartments.

AQUATIC AND BIOTA MONITORING

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene has been measured in fish and other aquatic organisms because its high lipophilicity creates significant potential for bioaccumulation.
Biological monitoring consequently forms an important part of research into historical environmental exposure to nitro musks.

Tissue analysis commonly requires extraction of lipid-rich matrices followed by chromatographic purification and instrumental determination.
Well-characterized 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene standards are useful for recovery correction, calibration, identification, and quality control.

Measurement in aquatic organisms can support assessment of spatial and temporal contamination patterns.
Long-term datasets are particularly useful for evaluating the effect of reduced commercial use and regulatory action on environmental concentrations.

ANALYTICAL REFERENCE STANDARDS

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene is used as an analytical reference compound in gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, and related analytical techniques.
Its defined molecular identity allows laboratories to establish instrument response and confirm analytical retention behaviour.

Neat reference material is appropriate when laboratories prepare calibration solutions internally.
Pre-prepared solutions can simplify calibration workflows and reduce repeated handling of the solid material.

Reference-material applications place strong emphasis on chemical purity, identity confirmation, accurate concentration, solvent identity, storage conditions, and traceability.
These requirements differ substantially from the historical specifications used for bulk fragrance material.

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene may also be incorporated into multi-component analytical mixtures containing other synthetic musks or environmental contaminants.
Such mixtures support simultaneous method validation and routine monitoring of chemically related target compounds.

FORENSIC AND PRODUCT ANALYSIS

Analytical identification of 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene can assist investigation of older fragrances, cosmetics, detergents, household products, and related consumer materials.
Its presence may indicate historical or specialised use of nitro musk fragrance chemistry.

Chromatographic and mass-spectrometric techniques can distinguish 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene from Musk ketone and other synthetic musks.
Accurate reference spectra and retention data support confident identification in complex fragrance matrices.

Such analysis can be useful in product-composition research, authenticity investigations, contaminant screening, historical formulation studies, and regulatory laboratory work.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND TRANSFORMATION RESEARCH

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene is a useful model compound for investigating environmental behaviour of persistent hydrophobic organic substances.
Research focuses on partitioning, sorption, degradation, photochemical transformation, biological uptake, metabolism, and formation of transformation products.

The very low water solubility requires analytical and experimental methods capable of working at low dissolved concentrations.
Care must also be taken to distinguish truly dissolved material from substance adsorbed onto test vessels, suspended particles, or organic matter.

Nitro-group reduction is an especially important transformation pathway.
Partially reduced amino derivatives can occur under biological and wastewater-treatment conditions and have their own analytical and toxicological significance.

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene therefore serves as both a target contaminant and a parent compound for transformation-product studies.
Reference standards for the parent and relevant metabolites support mass-balance and degradation investigations.

BIOACCUMULATION RESEARCH

The high log Kow of 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene makes bioaccumulation a major technical and regulatory consideration.
Its behaviour has consequently been examined in aquatic organisms and other biological systems.

Controlled studies can use 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene to investigate uptake, distribution, elimination, metabolic conversion, and lipid-normalized concentration.
These data help characterize how strongly hydrophobic fragrance contaminants interact with biological tissues.

Its bioaccumulation behaviour contributed directly to its identification in Europe as a very persistent and very bioaccumulative substance.
This environmental property now has greater commercial significance than its original fragrance function when assessing European product use and procurement.

TOXICOLOGICAL AND METABOLISM RESEARCH

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene has been studied in toxicology because of its historical consumer exposure and environmental occurrence.
Research includes absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, enzyme induction, chronic exposure, and carcinogenicity-related endpoints.

Nitroreduction is an important metabolic transformation.
Analytical identification of amino metabolites can provide information on biological processing of the parent molecule.

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene has also been used in mechanistic studies involving hepatic enzyme systems.
Such work supports interpretation of older toxicological datasets and comparison with related nitro musk compounds.

The material is consequently useful to research laboratories requiring a chemically defined representative of historical nitro musk exposure.

REGULATORY AND COMPLIANCE TESTING

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene can serve as a target analyte in compliance programmes concerned with restricted substances, fragrance composition, consumer-product surveillance, environmental monitoring, or chemical regulation.
Laboratories require reliable standards to identify and quantify the substance when regulatory thresholds or product requirements apply.

Testing may involve finished products, raw materials, wastewater, environmental samples, or extracts from manufactured articles.
Analytical methodology should be matched to the sample matrix and concentration range expected.

For regulated applications, accurately characterized reference materials are preferable to bulk technical material.
Purity, traceability, uncertainty information, and preparation of calibration solutions become important elements of analytical quality assurance.

REGULATORY STATUS AND PRODUCT SUITABILITY

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene is identified in the European Union as a substance of very high concern because of its very persistent and very bioaccumulative properties.
It was included on the REACH Candidate List in 2008.

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene is also included in REACH Annex XIV.
The latest application date was 21 February 2013 and the sunset date was 21 August 2014.

Uses falling within the scope of the European REACH authorization requirement after the sunset date require an applicable authorization or legal exemption.
This makes intended use and jurisdiction fundamental considerations when 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene is sourced for commercial activity in Europe.

The European cosmetics framework separately lists Musk xylene with concentration limits for specified cosmetic categories.
The current consolidated cosmetics provisions list maximum concentrations of 1.0% in fine fragrance, 0.4% in eau de toilette, and 0.03% in other permitted cosmetic products, while excluding oral products.

These cosmetics provisions do not remove the separate importance of REACH authorization requirements.
A buyer evaluating 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene for any European commercial use should therefore define the precise legal use category, supply-chain role, quantity, and applicable regulatory pathway.

Analytical, research, monitoring, and regulatory-testing applications have different legal and technical requirements from historical fragrance manufacture.
Grade selection should reflect the intended use rather than relying on legacy fragrance specifications.

GRADE SELECTION AND PRODUCT SUITABILITY

Chemical purity is a principal parameter for 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene used as an analytical or research chemical.
High purity reduces interference from structurally related aromatic or nitro compounds during chromatographic measurement.

Identity confirmation is especially important because several synthetic musks possess similar commercial names and related aromatic structures.
CAS Number 81-15-2 and EC Number 201-329-4 provide the primary registry identifiers for 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene.

Melting behaviour can provide useful supporting identity information for neat crystalline material.
A melting range near that expected for the stable crystalline form complements chromatographic and spectroscopic identification.

Chromatographic purity is particularly relevant for GC, GC-MS, and LC analytical standards.
Small organic impurities can produce additional peaks, interfere with trace analysis, or affect calibration accuracy.

Reference-solution grades additionally require accurate concentration and clearly defined solvent composition.
Solvent selection should correspond to analytical-method requirements and maintain adequate stability and solubility throughout storage.

Research applications involving environmental transformation may require material with sufficiently high purity that metabolites or degradation products can be distinguished confidently from impurities already present in the starting substance.

Bulk fragrance specifications and analytical-reference specifications should therefore not be treated as interchangeable.
The technical requirements for modern laboratory and regulatory applications generally place greater emphasis on characterized purity, analytical traceability, and contaminant control.

FORMULATION AND PROCESS CONSIDERATIONS

The extremely low water solubility of 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene must be considered when preparing aqueous experiments, environmental tests, or extraction systems.
Direct addition to water can produce incomplete dissolution and non-uniform exposure conditions.

Appropriate organic solvents or carrier systems may be used in analytical preparation when compatible with the intended method.
The final solvent composition should not interfere with chromatography, extraction, biological testing, or instrument performance.

The high lipophilicity of 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene promotes adsorption onto organic matter, particulate material, polymeric surfaces, and biological matrices.
Experimental design should account for losses from the aqueous phase when accurate mass balance is required.

Powder and crystalline handling should minimize dust generation.
Enclosed transfer, careful weighing, appropriate local exhaust, and clean laboratory technique are useful when working with neat solid material.

Heating should be strictly controlled because 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene possesses significant energetic properties under adverse conditions.
Unnecessary heating, confinement, friction, impact, and proximity to ignition sources should be avoided.

Grinding, aggressive mechanical processing, or operations capable of creating localized heating require particular attention.
Equipment and procedures should be suitable for the energetic and self-reactive characteristics of the material.

QUALITY, SPECIFICATIONS AND DOCUMENTATION

Relevant quality parameters for 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene can include assay, chromatographic purity, appearance, melting range, moisture, related organic impurities, and physical form.
Analytical-grade products may additionally require characterization by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods.

Gas chromatography is especially useful for purity evaluation and quantitative analysis.
GC-MS provides an additional identity dimension through the characteristic mass spectrum of the compound.

Liquid chromatography can be useful where method conditions, sample matrices, or transformation products are better suited to non-volatile analysis.
Method selection depends on the analytical objective rather than a single universal quality-control technique.

For reference solutions, concentration accuracy and solvent identity become primary specification parameters.
Stability under the stated storage conditions is also important for reliable calibration throughout the intended use period.

A Certificate of Analysis provides batch-specific analytical information for the supplied material.
A Technical Data Sheet can summarize physical and product characteristics, while the Safety Data Sheet provides hazard, handling, transport, storage, exposure-control, and emergency information.

Reference-material procurement may additionally require traceability information and documented analytical characterization.
These requirements are particularly important in accredited laboratories and regulatory measurement programmes.

SAFETY AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene has significant energetic properties and must be protected from inappropriate heating, confinement, friction, impact, and ignition conditions.
Its European harmonized hazard classification includes an explosive hazard associated with the highly nitrated aromatic structure.

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene is also classified as suspected of causing cancer.
Occupational exposure should therefore be minimized using appropriate containment, ventilation, handling procedures, and personal protective equipment.

Environmental hazard is especially important.
5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene is very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects and should not be released to drains, surface water, soil, or uncontrolled waste streams.

Its environmental significance extends beyond acute aquatic effects because the substance possesses very persistent and very bioaccumulative characteristics.
These properties are the basis of its European substance-of-very-high-concern status.

Dust generation should be minimized during weighing and transfer.
Suitable protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection, and effective local exhaust ventilation should be used according to the handling operation.

Contaminated waste and absorbent materials require controlled collection.
Disposal should prevent uncontrolled environmental release and should follow the waste requirements applicable to the material and jurisdiction.

Fire and thermal incidents require particular caution because decomposition of nitroaromatic material can generate toxic nitrogen oxides and carbon oxides.
Containers exposed to significant heat can present additional risk from decomposition and pressure development.

FIRST AID

Inhalation: Move the exposed person to fresh air and keep at rest.
Obtain medical attention if dust has been inhaled or if headache, respiratory discomfort, dizziness, nausea, or other symptoms occur.

Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and wash the affected skin thoroughly with soap and water.
Obtain medical attention if irritation develops or significant exposure has occurred.

Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with clean water for several minutes while holding the eyelids open.
Remove contact lenses when easy to do and continue rinsing until particulate material has been thoroughly removed.

Ingestion: Rinse the mouth and obtain prompt medical advice.
Do not induce vomiting unless instructed by qualified medical personnel.

Note to Physicians: Treatment should be based on the route and extent of exposure and the observed clinical condition.
Relevant exposure information should include the identity of 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene as a nitroaromatic compound.

HANDLING AND STORAGE

Handling: Handle 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene using procedures appropriate for an energetic nitroaromatic solid.
Avoid impact, friction, unnecessary heating, ignition sources, dust formation, and environmental release.

Ventilation: Provide effective local exhaust ventilation at weighing, transfer, sampling, repackaging, and other points where airborne particulate matter may be generated.

Storage: Store 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location using packaging suitable for this specific material.
Protect the material from heat, ignition sources, physical damage, contamination, and conditions that could produce hazardous confinement.

Incompatibilities: Keep separated from strong oxidizing agents, strong reducing agents, reactive chemicals, ignition sources, and materials capable of promoting hazardous decomposition.

Environmental Protection: Prevent discharge to drains, wastewater systems, soil, and surface water.
Collect spills and contaminated materials using methods appropriate to the energetic and environmental hazards of the substance.

PACKAGING AND TRANSPORT CONSIDERATIONS

5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene has the dedicated UN transport number UN 2956.
Its proper shipping identity is 5-tert-BUTYL-2,4,6-TRINITRO-m-XYLENE, also identified in transport terminology as MUSK XYLENE.

UN Number: 2956
Transport Class: 4.1
Classification Code: SR1
Packing Group: III

The transport classification reflects the special energetic behaviour of the material.
Packaging must be designed for the specific UN entry and must avoid conditions capable of producing hazardous confinement.

Transport planning should take account of package size, mode of transport, quantity, approved packaging type, documentation, labelling, segregation, and applicable national and international dangerous-goods requirements.

Packaging used for analytical quantities should protect the material from contamination and physical damage while remaining compatible with the specific transport provisions.
Reference solutions require separate classification based on the concentration, solvent, quantity, and complete composition of the prepared solution.

PROCUREMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Modern procurement of 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene should begin with a precise definition of intended use.
Analytical calibration, environmental monitoring, toxicological research, regulatory testing, historical-product analysis, and chemical research each create different requirements for purity, quantity, packaging, and documentation.

CAS Number 81-15-2 should be specified clearly because the term synthetic musk covers numerous chemically distinct substances.
The common names Musk xylene and Musk xylol should be linked explicitly to the same registry identity during purchasing and documentation.

Analytical users should consider assay, chromatographic purity, certificate information, package quantity, and whether neat material or a prepared reference solution is more appropriate.
Trace-analysis laboratories may obtain greater practical value from accurately prepared solutions than from bulk crystalline material.

Research buyers working with transformation products should also consider impurity characterization.
A starting material containing amino-musk impurities or related nitro compounds can complicate studies intended to measure biological or environmental formation of those same products.

Storage capability should be reviewed before purchasing quantities larger than immediate laboratory requirements.
The material’s energetic properties, hazardous-substance status, environmental characteristics, and dangerous-goods classification make appropriate storage infrastructure an important purchasing consideration.

European procurement additionally requires consideration of the REACH Annex XIV authorization framework.
The precise legal use, purchaser role, research status, quantity, and jurisdiction determine the regulatory requirements applicable to a proposed supply.

Historical fragrance use should not automatically be treated as evidence of present-day suitability for fragrance manufacture.
Current product selection should instead be based on the intended technical use and the regulatory conditions governing that use.

Ataman Kimya can support enquiries for 5-t-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene concerning chemical identity, analytical grade, purity requirements, documentation, packaging, research applications, regulatory context, and supply requirements.
For product and procurement information, contact Ataman Kimya at +90 216 577 10 10 or [info@atamankimya.com](mailto:info@atamankimya.com).