​The pyrolysis and oxidation of all four butanols (n-, sec-, iso- and tert-) have been studied at pressures from 1 to 4 atm and temperatures of 1000–1800 K behind reflected shock waves. Gas chromatographic sampling at different reaction times varying from 1.5 to 3.1 ms was used to measure reactant, intermediate and product species profiles in a single-pulse shock tube. In addition, ignition delays were determined at an average reflected shock pressure of 3.5 atm at temperatures from 1250 to 1800 K. A detailed chemical kinetic model consisting of 1892 reactions involving 284 species was constructed and tested against species profiles and ignition delays. The little-known chemistry of enols is included in this work to explain the temperature dependence of acetaldehyde produced in the thermal decomposition of isobutanol.