1,2-Butanediol

1,2-Butanediol is the organic compound with the formula HOCH2(HO)CHCH2CH3. It is classified as a vic-diol (glycol. It is chiral, although typically it is encountered as the racemic mixture. It is a colorless liquid. 1,2-Butanediol is the organic compound with the formula HOCH2(HO)CHCH2CH3. It is classified as a vic-diol (glycol. It is chiral, although typically it is encountered as the racemic mixture. It is a colorless liquid. It is produced industrially by hydration of 1,2-epoxybutane. 1,2-Butanediol is a byproduct of the production of 1,4-butanediol from butadiene, It is also a byproduct of the catalytic hydrocracking of starches and sugars such as sorbitol to ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. This diol was first described by Charles-Adolphe Wurtz in 1859. It has been patented for the production of polyester resins and plasticizers. It is a potential feedstock for the industrial production of α-ketobutyric acid, a precursor to some amino acids. The LD50 (rats, oral) is 16g/kg.