How do you synthesize tetrabutyl titanate $(\ce{[CH3(CH2)3O]4Ti})$ from titanium dioxide ($\ce{TiO2}$) powder? As I know, we can get $\ce{TiO2}$ from tetrabutyl titanate, but how can we do the opposite?

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    $\begingroup$ there is not practically viable way to do at at lab. It thousands time cheaper to go with titanium tetrachloride. $\endgroup$ – permeakra May 5 '18 at 14:12

Treat with a chlorination reagent the titania to form titanium tetrachloride. You could do this with coke and chlorine in an electric arc furnace. Then distill the titanium tetrachloride. Next react it with a mixture of sodium butoxide and butanol at a low temperture.

Next vacuum distill the product to obtain pure titanium butoxide


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