Potassium tert-butoxide (KOtBu) is a strong, non-nucleophilic base widely used in organic synthesis and materials science. It appears as a white to off-white crystalline solid that is highly reactive, especially in the presence of moisture or air. It can be used as a vapor deposition precursor in chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) processes for thin film fabrication. It offers potential utility in depositing potassium-containing films or modifying surface chemistry in the production of advanced materials.

Potassium tert-butoxide can be used as:

• A precursor to fabricate potassium-containing thin films via the atomic layer deposition (ALD) method.
• A catalyst for efficient functionalization of silsesquioxanes enabling the preparation of hybrid materials used in optics, electronics, and coating. A strong base in the synthesis of nitriles from aldehydes.
• A promoter and base in cyclization and coupling reactions for enabling a wide range of bond-forming reactions via both ionic and radical mechanisms.
• Mizoroki-Heck-Type reactions are mediated by potassium tert-butoxide. potassium tert-butoxide can commence the anionic polymerization of carbazolyl-substituted oxiranes.