1-HYDROXY-2-BUTANONE

Description

May be synthesized from l-chlorobutan-2-one by hydrolysis or by heating the chloro compound with potassium formate in methanol; the ethyl ester may be prepared by bacterial oxidation of the corresponding glycol with Aspergillus niger.

Chemical properties

Colorless liquid

Occurrence

Reported found in coffee and mushrooms.

Preparation

From 1-chlorobutan-2-one by hydrolysis or by heating the chloro compound with potassium formate in methanol; the ethyl ester may be prepared by bacterial oxidation of the corresponding glycol with Aspergillus niger.

Definition

ChEBI: 1-hydroxybutan-2-one is a primary alpha-hydroxy ketone that is butane-1,2-diol in which the hydroxy group at position 2 has been formally oxidised to give the corresponding ketone. It is functionally related to a butan-2-one and a butane-1,2-diol.

Taste threshold values

Taste characteristics at 30 ppm: brown, oily and alcoholic with toasted grain notes.