1,4-BUTYLENE GLYCOL

1,4-Butylene Glycol is a chemical. 
1,4-Butylene Glycol's used as a source of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a recreational drug with euphoric and sedative effects.
1,4-Butylene Glycol is converted to GHB in the body. 

CAS Number: 110-63-4
EC Number: 203-786-5
IUPAC Name: Butane-1,4-diol
Chemical Formula: C4H10O2

Other names: 1,4-BUTANEDIOL, Butane-1,4-diol, 110-63-4, 1,4-Butylene glycol, Tetramethylene glycol, 1,4-Dihydroxybutane, 1,4-Tetramethylene glycol, Tetramethylene 1,4-diol, Sucol B, 1,4-BD, DIOL 14B, UNII-7XOO2LE6G3, HO(CH2)4OH, NSC 406696, HOCH2CH2CH2CH2OH, 7XOO2LE6G3, CHEBI:41189, DSSTox_CID_4666, Agrisynth B1D, DSSTox_RID_77492, DSSTox_GSID_24666, BDO, BU1, CAS-110-63-4, CCRIS 5984, HSDB 1112, EINECS 203-786-5, MFCD00002968, BRN 1633445, AI3-07553, 4-hydroxybutanol, 1,4butanediol, 1.4-butanediol, Dabco BDO, 1,4-butandiol, 1,4-butane diol, 1,4-butane-diol, butane 1,4-diol, butane diol-1,4, butane-1-4-diol, 1,4- butandiol, Butan-1.4-diol, 1.4 - butanediol, 1,4 butylene glycol, 1,4-Butanediol, 99%, EC 203-786-5, WLN: Q4Q, 4-01-00-02515 (Beilstein Handbook Reference), MLS001061198, 1,4-Butanediol 4 M solution, CHEMBL171623, DTXSID2024666, HMS3039N12, ZINC1599375, Tox21_202245, Tox21_303040, NSC406696, STL283940, AKOS000118735, 1,4-Butanediol, for synthesis, 98%, CS-W016669, DB01955, NSC-406696, 1,4-Butanediol, ReagentPlus(R), 99%, NCGC00090733-01, NCGC00090733-02, NCGC00257119-01, NCGC00259794-01, BP-21418, SMR000677930, 1,4-Butanediol 100 microg/mL in Methanol, 1,4-Butanediol, ReagentPlus(R), >=99%, B0680, FT-0606811, 1,4-Butanediol, Vetec(TM) reagent grade, 98%, Q161521, J-503971, J-512798, F0001-0222, Z1259087047, UNII-TMS4MGA0H4 component WERYXYBDKMZEQL-UHFFFAOYSA-N, 1,4-Butanediol solution, 1.0 mg/mL in methanol

People use 1,4-Butylene Glycol for muscle strength, obesity, insomnia, and other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any use. 
1,4-Butylene Glycol is also unsafe.
Don't confuse 1,4-Butylene Glycol with GHB or Gamma Butyrolactone (GBL). 
1,4-Butylene Glycol (also known as 1,4-B, BDO, BD or 1,4-BD) is a depressant substance and a prodrug for GHB. 

1,4-Butylene Glycol occurs as a thick, colorless liquid or solid depending on storage temperature (melting point of 16 ℃), and has a distinct bitter-sweet taste. 
1 ml of 1,4-Butylene Glycol is equivalent to 1.4 g of Na-GHB.
1,4-Butylene Glycol is used industrially as a solvent and in the manufacture of some types of plastics, elastic fibers and polyurethanes. 
In organic chemistry, 1,4-Butylene Glycol is used for the synthesis of γ-butyrolactone (GBL).

1,4-Butylene Glycol, as well as GBL, will dissolve most types of plastic over time.
For this reason, 1,4-Butylene Glycol is recommended to only transport and store the drug using a glass container, standard gelatin capsules (not vegetarian), or high-density polyethylene plastic (also known as #2 recycled plastic). 
To check the type of plastic used on a bottle, one can look at the bottom for a number in the triangle-shaped recycling label.

1,4-Butylene Glycol is classified as a subclass of alcoholic compounds called diols. 
Diols are named for having two alcohol (OH-) substitutions in their structure. 
1,4-Butylene Glycol is comprised of a butane chain of four carbon groups with an alcohol group bound to each terminal carbon of this chain. 
1,4-Butylene Glycol is named for these alcohol substitutions, which are located at R1 and R4. 
These alcohol substitutions make 1,4-Butylene Glycol a polar liquid, which explains 1,4-Butylene Glycol good solubility in water.

Physically, 1,4-Butylene Glycol is a hygroscopic colorless oily liquid with a barely noticeable characteristic odor. 
Unlike GHB, 1,4-Butylene Glycol has a distinct taste, described as being repulsive, plastic-like and chemical.

1,4-Butylene Glycol Chemical Properties
Melting point : 16 °C (lit.)
Boiling point: 230 °C (lit.)
Density: 1.017 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)
Vapor density: 3.1 (vs air)
Vapor pressure: <0.1 hPa (20 °C)

Refractive index: n20/D 1.445(lit.)
Fp: 135 °C
Storage temp.: Store below +30°C.
Form : Liquid
pka: 14.73±0.10(Predicted)
Color: Clear colorless

Odor: Odorless
PH: 7-8 (500g/l, H2O, 20℃)
Explosive limit: 1.95-18.3%(V)
Water Solubility: Miscible
Sensitive: Hygroscopic
BRN: 1633445

Stability: Stable. Combustible. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, mineral acids, acid chlorides, acid anhydrides.
InChIKey: WERYXYBDKMZEQL-UHFFFAOYSA-N
CAS DataBase Reference: 110-63-4(CAS DataBase Reference)
NIST Chemistry Reference: 1,4-Butanediol(110-63-4)
EPA Substance Registry System: 1,4-Butanediol (110-63-4)

Chemical Properties    
1,4-Butylene Glycol is a colorless, viscous liquid derived from butane by placement of alcohol groups at each end of 1,4-Butylene Glycol molecular chain and is one of four stable isomers of butanediol.
The hydroxyl function of each end group of the Butanediol reacts with different mono- and bifunctional reagents: for example with dicarboxylic acids to polyesters, with diisocyanates to polyurethanes, or with phosgene to polycarbonates. 

1,4-Butylene Glycol is a high-quality intermediate. 
BDO and 1,4-Butylene Glycol's derivatives are widely used for producing plastics, solvents, electronic chemicals and elastic fibers. 
Additionally 1,4-Butylene Glycol is also a building block for the synthesis of polyesterpolyols and polyetherpolyols. 
BASF is the most significant producer of 1,4-Butylene Glycol and its derivatives worldwide.

Uses    
Butanediol and 1,4-Butylene Glycol derivatives is used in a broad spectrum of applications in the chemical industry; amongst others in the manufacturing of technical plastics, polyurethanes, solvents, electronic chemicals and elastic fibres.
1,4-Butylene Glycol is used in the synthesis of epothilones, a new class of cancer drugs. 
Also used in the stereoselective synthesis of (-)-Brevisamide.

1,4-Butylene Glycol's largest use is within tetrahydrofuran (THF) production, used to make polytetramethylene ether glycol, which goes mainly into spandex fibers, urethane elastomers, and copolyester ethers.
1,4-Butylene Glycol is commonly used as a solvent in the chemical industry to manufacture gamma-butyrolactone and elastic fibers like spandex.

1,4-Butylene Glycol is used as a cross-linking agent for thermoplastic urethanes, polyester plasticizers, paints and coatings.
1,4-Butylene Glycol undergoes dehydration in the presence of phosphoric acid yielded teterahydrofuran, which is an important solvent used for various applications.

1,4-Butylene Glycol acts an intermediate and is used to manufacture polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyurethane (PU).
1,4-Butylene Glycol finds application as an industrial cleaner and a glue remover.
1,4-Butylene Glycol is also used as a plasticiser (e.g. in polyesters and cellulosics), as a carrier solvent in printing ink, a cleaning agent, an adhesive (in leather, plastics, polyester laminates and polyurethane footwear), in agricultural and veterinary chemicals and in coatings (in paints, varnishes and films).

1,4-Butylene Glycol is a solvent with good antimicrobial action. 
1,4-Butylene Glycol enhances the preservative activity of parabens. 
1,4-Butylene Glycol also serves as a humectant and viscosity controller, and to mask odor.
1,4-Butylene Glycol is used to produce polybutyleneterephthalate, a thermoplastic polyester;and in making tetrahydrofuran, butyrolactones,and polymeric plasticizers.

Production Methods
The most prevalent 1,4-Butylene Glycol production route worldwide is BASF's Reppe process, which reacts acetylene and formaldehyde. 
Acetylene reacts with two equivalents of formaldehyde to form 1,4-Butylene Glycol, also known as but-2-yne- 1,4-diol.
Hydrogenation of 1,4-Butylene Glycol gives 1,4-butanediol. 

1,4-Butylene Glycol is also made on a large industrial scale by continuous hydrogenation of the 2-butyne- 1,4-diol over modified nickel catalysts. 
The one-stage flow process is carried out at 80 - 160 deg C and 300 bar.
Mitsubishi uses a three-step process:
the catalytic reaction of butadiene and acetic acid yields 1,4-diacetoxy-2-butene;
subsequent hydrogenation gives 1,4-diacetoxybutane; and
hydrolysis leads to 1,4-butanediol.

Reactivity Profile    
1,4-Butylene Glycol is heat and light sensitive. 
1,4-Butylene Glycol reacts with acid chlorides, acid anhydrides and chloroformates; reacts with oxidizing agents and reducing agents. 
1,4-Butylene Glycol is incompatible with isocyanates and acids; also incompatible with peroxides, perchloric acid, sulfuric acid, hypochlorous acid, nitric acid, caustics, acetaldehyde, nitrogen peroxide and chlorine.