Glycidol is a chiral molecule with epoxide and primary alcohol
functional groups. It is racemic mixture and exists in the
dextrorotatory and the levorotatory enantiomeric forms.
Several synthetic methods are available for preparation of glycidol.
However, it is commercially prepared from the epoxidation
of allyl alcohol with hydrogen peroxide and a catalyst
(tungsten or vanadium), or from the reaction of epichlorohydrin
with caustic. Glycidol has been used in the industrial
synthesis of pharmaceutical products since the 1970s.
However, its use for research purposes has been reported since
1956. Available information indicates that glycidol is manufactured
by several companies in Japan, Germany, and the
United States.
