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Propiolactone



Propiolactone
Chemical name 2-oxatanone
Other names Propiolactone
β-propiolactone
Chemical formula C3H4O2
Molecular mass 72.06 g/mol
CAS number [57-57-8]
Density 1.146 g/cm3
Melting point -33.4 °C
Boiling point 162 °C (dec.)
SMILES C1(=O)CCO1
Disclaimer and references

Propiolactone, or β-propiolactone, is an organic compound classified as a lactone containing a four-membered ring. It is a clear, colorless liquid with a slightly sweet odor, although given that propiolactone is "reasonably expected to be a human carcinogen" (IARC 1999) smelling propiolactone is not advisable. It is well soluble in water and miscible with ethanol, acetone, diethyl ether and chloroform. It will slowly react with water to hydrolize to produce 3-hydroxypropanoic acid (hydracryclic acid).

Propiolactone was once widely used in the manufacture of acrylic acid and its esters, but its use has been mostly phased out in favor of safer and less expensive alternatives. Propiolactone is a disinfectant and has been used to sterilize blood plasma, vaccines, tissue grafts, surgical instruments, and enzymes. The principle current use of propiolactone is an intermediate in the synthesis of other chemical compounds.


References

  • Merck Index, 12th Edition, 8005.
  • "β-Propiolactone" - NIH substance profile
 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Propiolactone". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
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