But-2-ene is an acyclic alkene with four carbon atoms. It is the simplest alkene exhibiting cis/trans-isomerism (also known as (E/Z)-isomerism); that is, it exists as two geometric isomers cis-but-2-ene ((Z)-but-2-ene) and trans-but-2-ene ((E)-but-2-ene).
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Names | |||
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Preferred IUPAC name
But-2-ene | |||
Other names
β-Butylene
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Identifiers | |||
3D model (JSmol)
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1718755 1361341 | |||
ChEBI |
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ChemSpider | |||
ECHA InfoCard | 100.003.140 | ||
EC Number |
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25196 1140 1141 | |||
PubChem CID
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RTECS number |
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UNII |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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Properties | |||
C4H8 | |||
Molar mass | 56.106 g/mol | ||
Density | 0.641 g/ml (cis, 3.7 °C)[1] 0.626 g/ml (trans, 0.9 °C)[2] | ||
Melting point | −138.9 °C (−218.0 °F; 134.2 K) (cis)[1] -105.5 °C (trans)[2] | ||
Boiling point | 0.8 to 3.7 °C (33.4 to 38.7 °F; 273.9 to 276.8 K) (Z = 3.7 °C)[1] (E = 0.8 °C)[2] | ||
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Hazards[3] | |||
GHS labelling: | |||
Danger | |||
H220 | |||
P210, P377, P381, P403 | |||
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |||
Flash point | −72 °C (−98 °F; 201 K)[1][2] | ||
325 °C (617 °F; 598 K)[1][2] | |||
Related compounds | |||
Related butenes
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1-Butene cis-2-Butene trans-2-Butene Isobutene | ||
Related compounds
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Butane Butyne | ||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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It is a petrochemical, produced by the catalytic cracking of crude oil or the dimerization of ethylene. Its main uses are in the production of high-octane gasoline (petrol) on alkylation units and butadiene,[4] although some but-2-ene is also used to produce the solvent butanone via hydration reaction to butan-2-ol followed by oxidation.
The two isomers are extremely difficult to separate by distillation because of the proximity of their boiling points (~4 °C for cis and ~1 °C for trans[5]). However, separation is unnecessary in most industrial settings, as both isomers behave similarly in most of the desired reactions. A typical industrial but-2-ene mixture is 70% (Z)-but-2-ene (cis-isomer) and 30% (E)-but-2-ene (trans-isomer). Butane and but-1-ene are common impurities, present at 1% or more in industrial mixtures, which also contain smaller amounts of isobutene, butadiene and butyne.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Record in the GESTIS Substance Database of the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
- ^ a b c d e Record in the GESTIS Substance Database of the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
- ^ cis-2-Butene, International Chemical Safety Card 0397, Geneva: International Programme on Chemical Safety, March 1996. trans-2-Butene, International Chemical Safety Card 0398, Geneva: International Programme on Chemical Safety, March 1996.
- ^ a b 2-Butene (PDF), SIDS Initial Assessment Report, Geneva: United Nations Environment Programme, February 1995.
- ^ Chemical Safety Information from Intergovernmental Organizations Archived December 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine