1,2,4-Butanetriol

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ImageFile = Butanetriol.png ImageSize =
IUPACName = Butane-1,2,4-triol
OtherNames = 1,2,4-Butanetriol
1,2,4-Trihydroxybutane
Triol 124
2-Deoxyerthritol
Section1 = Chembox Identifiers
Abbreviations =
CASNo = 3068-00-6
EINECS = 221-323-5
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SMILES = OCC(O)CCO
InChI =
RTECS = EK7176000
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Section2 = Chembox Properties
MolarMass = 106.12
Appearance =
Density = 1.19
MeltingPt =
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BoilingPt = 190-191 °C
Boiling_notes = 18 torr
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Section7 = Chembox Hazards
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NFPA-H = 2
NFPA-F = 1
NFPA-R = 0
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RPhrases = R36
SPhrases = S24/25
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FlashPt = 112 °C
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1,2,4-Butanetriol is a clear or slightly yellow, odorless, hygroscopic, flammable, viscous liquid. It is an alcohol with three hydrophilic alcoholic hydroxyl groups. It is similar to glycerol and erythritol. It is chiral, with two possible enantiomers.

1,2,4-Butanetriol is used in the manufacture of butanetriol trinitrate (BTTN), an important military propellant.

1,2,4-Butanetriol is also used as a precursor for two cholesterol-lowering drugs, as one of the monomers for manufacture of some polyesters, and as a solvent.

1,2,4-Butanetriol can be prepared synthetically by several different methods such as hydroformylation of glycidol and subsequent reduction of the product, sodium borohydride reduction of esterified malic acid, or catalytic hydrogenation of malic acid. ["Chemical & Engineering News", May 31, 2004, Volume 82, Number 22, pp. 31-34, "Biomass or Bust" [http://pubs.acs.org/email/cen/html/060804150713.html Web version] ] However, of an increasing importance is the biotechnological synthesis using genetically engineered "Escherichia coli" and "Pseudomonas fragi" bacteria. ["The State News", Feb. 12, 2004, "Propelling Research" by Meghan Gilbert. [http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk = 22196 Web version] ]

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