Ethanedial is an ethylene releasing plant growth regulator. It is miscible with water. Data relating to the environmental fate of ethanedial is not relevant. It tends to have a low toxicity to biodiversity. Ethanedial is moderately toxic to mammals via the oral route and is an irritant.
Ethanedione Dioxime is an nitroso vinyl amine used in the synthesis of various nitriles.
The commercial production of ethanedial typically involves the oxidation of ethylene glycol or acetaldehyde. In the most widely used industrial method, ethylene glycol is oxidized using nitric acid or air in the presence of a silver or copper catalyst, producing glyoxal as a 40% aqueous solution. Alternatively, acetaldehyde can be oxidised with nitric acid under controlled conditions.
Action is due to the chemically reactive nature of glyoxal
Plant Growth Regulator; Herbicide
