 | |
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name 4-Hydroxybutanal | |
| Other names γ-Hydroxybutanal, γ-Hydroxybutyraldehyde | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.042.900 |
| UNII | |
| |
| |
| Properties | |
| C4H8O2 | |
| Molar mass | 88.106 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | colorless liquid |
| Density | 1.109 g/cm3 (at 12 °C) |
| Boiling point | 65–68 °C (149–154 °F; 338–341 K) 10 Torr |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
γ-Hydroxybutyraldehyde is theorganic compound with the formula HOCH2CH2CH2CHO. It is a colorless liquid. The compound occurs in nature and is produced commercially.[1]
It is achemical intermediate in thebiosynthesis of theneurotransmitterγ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) from1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD).[2] Like 1,4-BD, it also behaves as aprodrug to GHB when takenexogenously. However, as with allaliphaticaldehydes, γ-hydroxybutaldehyde iscaustic and is strong-smelling and foul-tasting; thus, actual ingestion of this compound is likely to be unpleasant and result in severenausea andvomiting.
