γ-Hydroxybutyraldehyde
Chemical compound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
γ-Hydroxybutyraldehyde is the organic compound with the formula HOCH2CH2CH2CHO. It is a colorless liquid. The compound occurs in nature and is produced commercially.[1]
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| Names | |
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| Preferred IUPAC name
4-Hydroxybutanal | |
| Other names
γ-Hydroxybutanal, γ-Hydroxybutyraldehyde | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.042.900 |
PubChem CID |
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| 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 their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Occurrence
It is a chemical intermediate in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) from 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD).[2] Like 1,4-BD, it also behaves as a prodrug to GHB when taken exogenously. However, as with all aliphatic aldehydes, γ-hydroxybutaldehyde is caustic and is strong-smelling and foul-tasting; thus, actual ingestion of this compound is likely to be unpleasant and result in severe nausea and vomiting.
