4-Hydroxy-2-butanone

Chemical Properties

Colourless to pale yellow liquid

Uses

4-Hydroxy-2-butanone is used in the preparation of fused benzazepine molecules as selective D3 receptor antagonists with pharmaceutical activity. It is also used in the preparation of verrucarin and mevalonic acid lactone. Further, it is used to prepare 3-buten-2-one through dehydration over an anatase titanium dioxide catalyst. It is also employed in the preparation of 4-methyl-5-hydroxymethylthiazole, (±)-lineatin and beta-hydroxylactones.

Definition

ChEBI: A beta-hydroxy ketone that is butan-2-one substituted by a hydroxy group at position 4.

Application

4-Hydroxy-2-butanone has been used in the synthesis of:

• 3-buten-2-one via dehydration over anatase-TiO2 catalyst
• 4-methyl-5-hydroxymethylthiazole
• (±)-lineatin
• mevalonic acid lactone
• verrucarin
• β-hydroxylactones

General Description

4-Hydroxy-2-butanone is an important pharmaceutical intermediate. Gas phase reaction of the OH radicals with 4-hydroxy-2-butanone has been investigated by absolute rate method.