2-Furanone

2-Furanone
Identifiers
CAS number 497-23-4 Y
PubChem 10341
ChemSpider 9917 Y
KEGG C17601 Y
MeSH butenolide
ChEBI CHEBI:38118 Y
ChEMBL CHEMBL166223 Y
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Properties
Molecular formula C4H4O2
Molar mass 84.07336
Density 1.185 g/cm3, liquid
Melting point

4-5 °C, 277-278 K, 39-41 °F (Source[1])

Boiling point

86-87 °C, 359-360 K, 187-189 °F (12 mm Hg, Source[1])

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Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

2-Furanone is a heterocyclic organic compound. Classified as a lactone, this colourless liquid is a common natural products synthesized by biochemical pathways, especially plants of the genus Angelica, hence its name β-angelica lactone. It is the simplest butenolide and is colloquially called "butenolide" in the context of natural product synthesis.

Synthesis and tautomerism

2-Furanone is prepared by oxidation of furfural:[2]

It exists in small part as the tautomer 2-hydroxyfuran, which serves as a reactive intermediate in the interconversion between the β and α lactones. The β form is the more stable but interconversion can be catalyzed by the addition of base.

Reactions

2-Furanones can be converted to furans by a two-step process of reduction followed by dehydration. First the carbon-oxygen double bond is reduced by the attachment of a trimethylsilyl functional group to the oxygen atom. The dehydration reaction introduces two carbon-carbon double bonds in the ring.

References

  1. ^ a b Sigma-Aldrich Chemicals Product detail
  2. ^ Jan H. Näsman (1993), "3-Methyl-2(5H)-furanone", Org. Synth., http://www.orgsyn.org/orgsyn/orgsyn/prepContent.asp?prep=cv8p0396 ; Coll. Vol. 1: 396