Methyl vinyl ketone (MVK, IUPAC name: butenone) is the

organic compound Some chemical authorities define an organic compound as a chemical compound that contains a carbon–hydrogen or carbon–carbon bond; others consider an organic compound to be any chemical compound that contains carbon. For example, carbon-co ...

with the formula CH₃C(O)CH=CH₂. It is a reactive compound classified as an enone, in fact the simplest example thereof. It is a colorless, flammable, highly toxic liquid with a pungent odor. It is soluble in water and polar organic solvents. It is a useful intermediate in the synthesis of other compounds.

Production

MVK has been prepared industrially by the

condensation Condensation is the change of the state of matter from the gas phase into the liquid phase, and is the reverse of vaporization. The word most often refers to the water cycle. It can also be defined as the change in the state of water vapor ...

acetone Acetone (2-propanone or dimethyl ketone) is an organic compound with the chemical formula, formula . It is the simplest and smallest ketone (). It is a colorless, highly Volatile organic compound, volatile, and flammable liquid with a charact ...

and

formaldehyde Formaldehyde ( , ) (systematic name methanal) is an organic compound with the chemical formula and structure , more precisely . The compound is a pungent, colourless gas that polymerises spontaneously into paraformaldehyde. It is stored as ...

, followed by

dehydration In physiology, dehydration is a lack of total body water that disrupts metabolic processes. It occurs when free water loss exceeds intake, often resulting from excessive sweating, health conditions, or inadequate consumption of water. Mild deh ...

. Similarly it is prepared by the

Mannich reaction In organic chemistry, the Mannich reaction is a three-component organic reaction that involves the amino alkylation of an acidic proton next to a carbonyl () functional group by formaldehyde () and a primary or secondary amine () or ammonia () ...

involving diethylammonium chloride and acetone, which produces the Mannich adduct: :CH₃C(O)CH₃ + CH₂O + ₂NEt₂l → H₃C(O)CH₂CH₂N(H)Et₂l + H₂O Heating this ammonium salt releases the ammonium chloride and the MVK: : H₃C(O)CH₂CH₂N(H)Et₂l → CH₃C(O)CH=CH₂ + ₂NEt₂l

Reactivity and applications

MVK can act as an

alkylating agent Alkylation is a chemical reaction that entails transfer of an alkyl group. The alkyl group may be transferred as an alkyl carbocation, a free radical, a carbanion, or a carbene (or their equivalents). Alkylating agents are reagents for effecting ...

because it is an effective Michael acceptor. It gained early attention for its use in the

Robinson annulation The Robinson annulation is a chemical reaction used in organic chemistry for ring formation. It was discovered by Robert Robinson (organic chemist), Robert Robinson in 1935 as a method to create a six membered ring by forming three new carbon–c ...

, a method useful in the preparation of steroids: : Reaction Scheme for Robinson Annulation

Its alkylating ability is both the source of its high toxicity and the feature that makes it a useful intermediate in

organic synthesis Organic synthesis is a branch of chemical synthesis concerned with the construction of organic compounds. Organic compounds are molecules consisting of combinations of covalently-linked hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms. Within the gen ...

. MVK will

polymerize In polymer chemistry, polymerization (American English), or polymerisation (British English), is a process of reacting monomer molecules together in a chemical reaction to form polymer chains or three-dimensional networks. There are many form ...

spontaneously. The compound is typically stored with

hydroquinone Hydroquinone, also known as benzene-1,4-diol or quinol, is an aromatic organic compound that is a type of phenol, a derivative of benzene, having the chemical formula C6H4(OH)2. It has two hydroxyl groups bonded to a benzene ring in a ''para' ...

, which inhibits polymerization. : As an electrophilic alkene, it forms an adduct with

cyclopentadiene Cyclopentadiene is an organic compound with the chemical formula, formula C5H6. It is often abbreviated CpH because the cyclopentadienyl anion is abbreviated Cp−. This colorless liquid has a strong and unpleasant odor. At room temperature, ...

. The resulting

norbornene Norbornene or norbornylene or norcamphene is a highly strained bridged cyclic hydrocarbon. It is a white solid with a pungent sour odor. The molecule consists of a cyclohexene ring with a methylene bridge between carbons 1 and 4. The molecule carr ...

derivative In mathematics, the derivative is a fundamental tool that quantifies the sensitivity to change of a function's output with respect to its input. The derivative of a function of a single variable at a chosen input value, when it exists, is t ...

is an intermediate in the synthesis of the

anticholinergic Anticholinergics (anticholinergic agents) are substances that block the action of the acetylcholine (ACh) neurotransmitter at synapses in the central nervous system, central and peripheral nervous system. These agents inhibit the parasympatheti ...

drug biperiden. Via its

cyanohydrin In organic chemistry, a cyanohydrin or hydroxynitrile is a functional group found in organic compounds in which a cyano and a hydroxy group are attached to the same carbon atom. The general formula is , where R is H, alkyl, or aryl. Cyanohyd ...

is also a precursor to vinclozolin. It is also a precursor to synthetic

vitamin A Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is an essential nutrient. The term "vitamin A" encompasses a group of chemically related organic compounds that includes retinol, retinyl esters, and several provitamin (precursor) carotenoids, most not ...

. MVK is an intermediate in the synthesis of some pharmaceutical drugs including

etorphine Etorphine (M99) is a semi-synthetic opioid possessing an analgesic potency approximately 1,000–3,000 times that of morphine. It was first prepared in 1960 from oripavine, which does not generally occur in opium poppy extract but rather the re ...

, buprenorphine, tolquinzole, butaclamol, and etretinate. MVK is used in the synthesis of Wieland–Miescher ketone.

Safety

MVK is extremely hazardous upon inhalation causing coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath even at low concentrations. It will also readily cause irritation of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes.

References

External links

NJ Hazardous Substance Factsheet for methyl vinyl ketone

MSDS for methyl vinyl ketone

Compilation of Henry's law constants for inorganic and organic species of potential importance in environmental chemistry
Sander, R. 1999-04-08. {{Authority control Alkylating agents Vinyl compounds Enones Pulmonary agents