Diepoxybutane (also known as butane diepoxide, butadiene diepoxide, or 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane) is an epoxide which is a colorless liquid at room temperature.[3] It is therefore highly reactive, more than other ethers. An epoxide is a cyclic ether that contains a three atom ring that comes close to an equilateral triangle. The primary structure of an epoxide contains two carbon atoms and a hydrocarbon attached to an oxygen atom. It polymerizes in the presence of catalysts or when heated.[4] It’s hydrophilic, very flammable and easily ignited by heat or sparks.[3]

Diepoxybutane
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
2,2′-Bioxirane
Other names
1,1′-Bi[ethylene oxide]; 1,2:3,4-Diepoxybutane; 1,3-Butadiene diepoxide; Bioxirane; Butadiene dioxide; Butane diepoxide; Dioxybutadiene
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
Abbreviations DEB
79831
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.014.527 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 206-060-6 215-979-1
UNII
UN number 3384 3082
  • InChI=1S/C4H6O2/c1-3(5-1)4-2-6-4/h3-4H,1-2H2
    Key: ZFIVKAOQEXOYFY-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • InChI=1/C4H6O2/c1-3(5-1)4-2-6-4/h3-4H,1-2H2
    Key: ZFIVKAOQEXOYFY-UHFFFAOYAG
  • C1OC1C2CO2
Properties
C4H6O2
Molar mass 86.090 g·mol−1
Density 1.113 g/cm3 (18 °C)[1]
Melting point 4 °C (39 °F; 277 K)[1]
Boiling point 138 °C (280 °F; 411 K)[1]
Miscible[1]
Vapor pressure 0.52 kPa (at 20 °C)[2]
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS02: FlammableGHS05: CorrosiveGHS06: ToxicGHS08: Health hazard
Danger
H226, H301, H310, H311, H314, H330, H340, H350
P201, P202, P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P260, P262, P264, P270, P271, P280, P281, P284, P301+P310, P301+P330+P331, P302+P350, P302+P352, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P308+P313, P310, P312, P320, P321, P322, P330, P361, P363, P370+P378, P403+P233, P403+P235, P405, P501
Flash point 46 °C (115 °F; 319 K)[1]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Diepoxybutane is used as a chemical intermediate, as a curing agent for polymers, as a cross-linking agent for textiles, and as a preservative.[2]

Structure, reactivity, synthesis

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Diepoxybutane occurs in several enantiomeric forms, including d,l-1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane, d-1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane, l-1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane, and meso-1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane.[3]

Diepoxybutane polymerizes in the presence of catalysts or when heated. These polymerization reactions can be violent. Compounds in epoxy groups react with acids, bases, and oxidizing and reducing agents. They react, possibly violently with water in the presence of acid and other catalysts.[4]

Metabolism/biotransformation

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The metabolism/biotransformation of diepoxybutane occurs in several steps. The first biotransformation step is the cytochrome p450-mediated oxidation of 1,3-butadiene to form 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (EB). EB can be further metabolized into 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB) or into 3-butene-1,2-diol (BDD). The hydrolysis of DEB by epoxide hydrolase or the oxidation of BDD by cytochrome p450 produces 3,4-epoxy-1,2-butanediol (EBD).[5]

Efficacy and side effects

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Efficacy

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Diepoxybutane is primarily used for research purposes. In research it is used as a curing agent for polymer resins, as a cross-linking agent for making synthetic textile fibers,[6] and as a chemical intermediate. There is a diepoxybutane test (DEB) for clinical investigation, used to screen for Fanconi anemia (FA) among patients with bone marrow failure syndromes.[7] FA is regarding chromosomal instability, which is why the cross-linking feature of DEB is useful for diagnosis.

Adverse effects

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  • Dermatoxin - Skin burns.
  • Toxic Pneumonitis - Inflammation of the lungs induced by inhalation of metal fumes or toxic gasses and vapors.

Carcinogenicity

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  • IARC Carcinogen - Class 1: International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies chemicals as established human carcinogens.
  • NTP Carcinogen - Reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.[6]

Molecular mechanism of action

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Diepoxybutane is the most potent active metabolite of the environmental chemical 1,3-butadiene (BD), which is widely used as an industrial chemical. BD is known to be a mutagen and human carcinogen and is capable of organ toxicity. The exposure, primarily via inhalation or dermal contact, of diepoxybutane to a human induces apoptosis in TK6 lymphoblasts via the upregulation of the tumor-suppressor p53 protein.[8]

Toxicity

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Effect on humans

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Diepoxybutane is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals.[6] Carcinogen is an agent capable of causing cancer.[9] Many scientists believe there is no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen.[10]

1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane can affect humans when breathed in, this agent can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of breath (bronchitis). Longer exposure periods can cause build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edem)), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. It may also damage the liver and kidneys. It should be handled as a carcinogen with extreme care.[10]

Effect on animals

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It is experimentally shown that diepoxybutane can cause tumors in rodent species at several different tissue sites and by several different exposure routes. Dermal contact with diepoxybutane caused benign but also malignant skin tumors in mice. Injection of diepoxybutane into mice and rats caused lung tumors. Furthermore, the inhalation exposure to diepoxybutane caused benign Harderian-gland tumors in mice and also increased the area of benign or malignant tumors of the nasal cavity.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Record in the GESTIS Substance Database of the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  2. ^ a b Diepoxybutane Report on Carcinogens, Twelfth Edition (2011)
  3. ^ a b c d "National Toxicology Program: 15th Report on Carcinogens". National Toxicology Program (NTP). Retrieved 2023-03-19.
  4. ^ a b "DIEPOXYBUTANE | CAMEO Chemicals | NOAA". cameochemicals.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
  5. ^ Wen, Ying; Zhang, Pan-Pan; An, Jing; Yu, Ying-Xin; Wu, Ming-Hong; Sheng, Guo-Ying; Fu, Jia-Mo; Zhang, Xin-Yu (2011-11-01). "Diepoxybutane induces the formation of DNA–DNA rather than DNA–protein cross-links, and single-strand breaks and alkali-labile sites in human hepatocyte L02 cells". Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis. 716 (1): 84–91. doi:10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2011.08.007. ISSN 0027-5107.
  6. ^ a b c PubChem. "2,2'-Bioxirane". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
  7. ^ "Diepoxybutane Test". www.datadictionary.nhs.uk. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
  8. ^ Ewunkem, Akamu J.; Deve, Maya; Harrison, Scott H.; Muganda, Perpetua M. (March 2020). "Diepoxybutane induces the expression of a novel p53‐target gene XCL1 that mediates apoptosis in exposed human lymphoblasts". Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology. 34 (3). doi:10.1002/jbt.22446. ISSN 1095-6670. PMC 7060116. PMID 31953984.
  9. ^ "Carcinogen". Genome.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
  10. ^ a b New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (2000). Hazardous Substances Fact Sheet. 984-2202 (609). Retrieved 2023-03-20. https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0685.pdf.