1,2,4-Butanetriol is used in the manufacture of butanetriol trinitrate (BTTN), an important component of US military rocket motor solid fuel. As of 2014, it was commercially produced by a single Chinese company.[1]
1,2,4-Butanetriol is also used as a precursor for two cholesterol-lowering drugs, Crestor and Zetia, which are derived from D-3,4-dihydroxybutanoic acid, by using 3-hydroxy-gamma-butyrolactone as a chiral synthon[2][3]
It is used as one of the monomers for manufacture of some polyesters and as a solvent.
Preparation
1,2,4-Butanetriol can be prepared synthetically by several methods, such as hydroformylation of glycidol and subsequent reduction of the product. It can also be prepared by reduction of malic acid esters with sodium borohydride.[4] The oxidation of butynediol with mercuric oxide followed by reduction of the resulting ketone.[5]
^Niu, Wei; Molefe, Mapitso N.; Frost, J. W. (2003). "Microbial Synthesis of the Energetic Material Precursor 1,2,4-Butanetriol". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 125 (43): 12998–12999. doi:10.1021/ja036391+. ISSN0002-7863. PMID14570452.
^Niu, W.; Molefe, M. N.; Frost, J. W. (2003). "Microbial synthesis of the energetic material precursor 1,2,4-butanetriol". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 125 (43): 12998–12999. doi:10.1021/ja036391. PMID14570452.