Colonel William A. Phillips

γ-Hydroxybutyraldehyde is the organic compound with the formula HOCH₂CH₂CH₂CHO. It is a colorless liquid. The compound occurs in nature and is produced commercially.^[1]

Occurrence

It is a chemical intermediate in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) from 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD).^[2] Like 1,4-BD, it also behaves as a prodrug to GHB when taken exogenously. However, as with all aliphatic aldehydes, γ-hydroxybutaldehyde is caustic and is strong-smelling and foul-tasting; thus, actual ingestion of this compound is likely to be unpleasant and result in severe nausea and vomiting.

References

^ Ahn, H. (1999). "Hydroformylation of olefins with formaldehyde in the presence of RhHCO(PPh3)3". Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical. 144 (2): 295–306. doi:10.1016/S1381-1169(99)00002-3.
^ Thomas L. Lemke; David A. Williams (24 January 2012). Foye's Principles of Medicinal Chemistry. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 413–. ISBN 978-1-60913-345-0.

[1] Ahn, H. (1999). "Hydroformylation of olefins with formaldehyde in the presence of RhHCO(PPh3)3". Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical. 144 (2): 295–306. doi:10.1016/S1381-1169(99)00002-3.

[LemkeWilliams2012-2] Thomas L. Lemke; David A. Williams (24 January 2012). Foye's Principles of Medicinal Chemistry. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 413–. ISBN 978-1-60913-345-0.

[1]

[2]

Occurrence

See also

References