1,4-Butanediol, commonly known as BD or BDO, is a primary alcohol and an organic compound with the molecular formula HOCH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OH. It is a colorless viscous liquid. It is one of four stable isomers of butanediol.
In industrial synthesis, acetylene is reacted with two equivalents of formaldehyde to produce 1,4-butynediol. Hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol yields 1,4-butanediol. It can also be produced on an industrial scale from maleic anhydride in the Davy process by first converting maleic anhydride to methyl maleate followed by hydrogenation. Other routes are from butadiene, allyl acetate and succinic acid.
The BD Biology pathway using genetically modified organisms is already commercialized. Biosynthesis takes place via 4-hydroxybutyrate.
