2-Furanone is a
heterocyclic organic compound. It is also known as γ-crotonolactone (GCL), as it is formally the
lactone derived from γ-hydroxy
isocrotonic acid. The chemical is colloquially called "butenolide", and is the parent structure for the
butenolide class of compounds. It is a colourless liquid.
Synthesis and reactions
2-Furanone is prepared by oxidation of
furfural
Furfural is an organic compound with the formula C4H3OCHO. It is a colorless liquid, although commercial samples are often brown. It has an aldehyde group attached to the 2-position of furan. It is a product of the dehydration of sugars, as occurs ...
:
:

It exists in equilibrium with the
tautomer 2-hydroxy
furan
Furan is a heterocyclic organic compound, consisting of a five-membered aromatic ring with four carbon atoms and one oxygen atom. Chemical compounds containing such rings are also referred to as furans.
Furan is a colorless, flammable, highly ...
, which serves as an intermediate in the interconversion between the β- and α-furanones. The β form is the more stable. The interconversion is catalyzed by
base.
2-Furanones can be converted to
furan
Furan is a heterocyclic organic compound, consisting of a five-membered aromatic ring with four carbon atoms and one oxygen atom. Chemical compounds containing such rings are also referred to as furans.
Furan is a colorless, flammable, highly ...
s by a two-step process of
reduction followed by
dehydration.
See also
*
:Furanones, various substituted structural analogs
*
Pyrone, which has one more carbon atom in the ring
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Furanone, 2-
Furanones
GHB receptor ligands