Description
1,3-Butanediol(also known as 1,3-Butylene Glycol or Butylene glycol) is a viscous, colorless, transparent liquid with a boiling point of 208°C and a faint odor. It exhibits the reactivity of a diol and possesses excellent chemical stability. Currently, 1,3-Butanediol is predominantly used in the cosmetics industry as a humectant, thanks to its excellent antibacterial properties and lower irritation and allergenicity compared to glycerol and propylene glycol. In the chemical industry, it is used to synthesize various resins, improve their properties, and enhance dyeability. As a solvent, 1,3-Butanediol is used in the manufacture of coatings, adhesives, and other chemical products. It is a key raw material in the production of polyester and polyether polyols, which are polymers used to manufacture polyurethane foams, elastomers, and coatings, among others. In the pharmaceutical industry, 1,3-Butanediol serves as a key intermediate in the synthesis of various drug molecules, including antibiotics, antiviral drugs, and anticancer agents. During drug preparation, it acts as a solvent, helping to improve the solubility and stability of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Chemical Properties
Butylene glycol occurs as a clear, colorless, viscous liquid with a
sweet flavor and bitter aftertaste.
Chemical Properties
1,3-Butanediol is a colorless oily liquid. Sp.Gr. 1.00.
B.P. 207℃. Miscible with water, soluble in alcohol and many perfume and flavor materials, but poorly soluble in hydrocarbons (terpenes, etc.). 1,3-Butylene glycol has a sweet flavor with bitter aftertaste and is odorless when pure.
Uses
Its most extensive use is as an intermediate in the manufacture of polyester plasticisers and other chemical products. It finds some use as a solvent and humectant, a useful chemical intermediate. It has extensive application in the manufacture of structural materials for boats, custom mouldings, and sheets and boards for construction applications. 1,3-Butanediol imparts resistance to weathering plus flexibility and impact resistance. It is also used in the manufacture of saturated polyesters for polyurethane coatings, where the glycol imparts greater flexibility to the polyester molecule. 1,3-Butanediol is currently used in many personal care products.
Uses
1,3-Butanediol is used in the synthesis of colchicine derivatives as anticancer agents. Also used in the synthesis of dual peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma and delta agonists acting as euglycem
ic agents in the treatment of diabetes.
Uses
(^+)-1,3-Butanediol acts as a co-monomer in the production of polyurethane and polyester resins. It is used as a humectant (to prevent loss of moisture) in cosmetics, especially in hair sprays and setting lotions. It is used in surfactants, inks, solvents for natural and synthetic flavorings. It is involved in the synthesis of dual peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma and delta agonists acting as euglycemic agents, which is used in the treatment of diabetes.
Definition
ChEBI: A butanediol compound having two hydroxy groups in the 1- and 3-positions.
Production Methods
Butylene glycol is prepared by catalytic hydrogenation of aldol
using Raney nickel.
Preparation
1,3-Butanediol can be produced by either chemical synthesis or biosynthesis. Chemical synthesis routes include the acetylene condensation–hydrogenation process, the propylene–formaldehyde condensation–hydrolysis process, and the one-step diacetone process. Among these methods, the acetylene condensation–hydrogenation route is currently the most widely used industrial production process.
Aroma threshold values
Detection: 70 to 100 ppm
General Description
(±)-1,3-Butanediol (BD) is a 1,3-diol. Its vapor pressure upto 270kPa, liquid-phase densities over a temperature range, two-phase (liquid + vapor) heat capacities, critical temperature and critical density have been determined. The obtained data was employed to derive various thermophysical properties.
Flammability and Explosibility
Not classified
Pharmaceutical Applications
Butylene glycol is used as a solvent and cosolvent for injectables.
It is used in topical ointments, creams, and lotions, and it is also
used as a vehicle in transdermal patches. Butylene glycol is a good
solvent for many pharmaceuticals, especially estrogenic substances.
In an oil-in-water emulsion, butylene glycol exerts its best
antimicrobial effects at ～8% concentration. Higher concentrations
above 16.7% are required to inhibit fungal growth.
Contact allergens
This dihydric alcohol is used for its humectant and preservative
potentiator properties in cosmetics, topical
medicaments and polyurethane, polyester, cellophane,
and cigarettes. It has similar properties, but is less irritant
than propylene glycol. Contact allergies seem to be rare.
Side effects
1,3-Butanediol is commonly used as a solvent in food flavourings and is mildly toxic by oral and subcutaneous routes, with possible side effects including severe respiratory problems, coma, amnesia, belligerence, confusion, agitation, vomiting, seizures and very slow heartbeat. People who use butylene glycol on a regular basis and then stop using it may also experience withdrawal symptoms such as sleep problems (insomnia), tremors and anxiety.
Safety Profile
Mdly toxic by
ingestion and subcutaneous routes. A skin
and eye irritant. See also ETHYLENE
GLYCOL. Experimental reproductive
effects. Combustible when exposed to heat
or flame. Incompatible with oxidizing
materials. To fight fire, use foam, alcohol
foam, CO2, dry chemical. When heated to
decomposition it emits acrid smoke and
irritating fumes.
Safety
Butylene glycol is used in a wide variety of cosmetic formulations
and is generally regarded as a relatively nontoxic material. It is
mildly toxic by oral and subcutaneous routes.
In topical preparations, butylene glycol is regarded as minimally
irritant. Butylene glycol can cause allergic contact dermatitis, with
local sensitivity reported in patch tests. Some local irritation
is produced on eye contact.
LD
50 (guinea pig, oral): 11.0 g/kg
LD
50 (mouse, oral): 12.98 g/kg
LD
50 (rat, oral): 18.61 g/kg
LD
50 (rat, SC): 20.0 g/kg
Carcinogenicity
There were no tumors found in
the 2-year feeding studies on dogs and rats . Thus, it
appears that 1,3-butanediol is not carcinogenic.
storage
Butylene glycol is hygroscopic and should be stored in a well-closed
container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. When heated to
decomposition, butylene glycol emits acrid smoke and irritating
fumes.
Incompatibilities
Butylene glycol is incompatible with oxidizing reagents.
Regulatory Status
GRAS listed. Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database
(transdermal patches). Included in licensed medicines in the UK
(topical gel patches/medicated plasters).
References
[1] Islam, Tayyab, et al. “Metabolic Engineering of Escherichia Coli for Enhanced Production of 1,3-Butanediol from Glucose.”
Bioresource Technology, vol. 389, 2023, p. Article 129814,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129814.[2] Cho, Seunghyun, et al. “Engineering of CoA-Acylating Butyraldehyde Dehydrogenase for Enhanced 1,3-Butanediol Production in Escherichia Coli.”
Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 123 6, 2026, pp. 1605–14,
https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.70197.[3] Janssens, Pieter, et al. “Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of 1,3-Butanediol into Green 1,3-Butadiene: Process Concept and Techno-Economic Assessment.”
Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 64 45, 2025, pp. 21571–87,
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5c01116.
