1-(4,5-Dimeth­oxy-2,3-di­nitro­phen­yl)-2-methyl­propyl butyl­carbamate, which affords butyl­amine on photoirradiation, was prepared by the reaction of 1-(4,5-dimeth­oxy-2,3-di­nitro­phen­yl)-2-methyl­propan-1-ol and butyl­iso­cyanate using di­butyl­tin dilaurate as a catalyst. Single crystals of the carbamate were grown in a 1:1 mixed solution of hexane and ethyl acetate. Two nitro groups and one meth­oxy group of the novel photo-protecting group were twisted out of the plane of the aromatic ring and inter­molecular hydrogen bonds are observed between carbamate moieties.