Oxiranol

Oxiranol
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Oxiranol
Other names
  • 2-Oxiranol
  • Epoxyethanol
  • Hydroxyoxirane
  • Oxacyclopropanol
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
  • InChI=1S/C2H4O2/c3-2-1-4-2/h2-3H,1H2
    Key: DOAMZWOPDPPKJS-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • C1OC1O
Properties
C2H4O2
Molar mass 60.052 g·mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Oxiranol is an organic chemical that is an alcohol derivative of oxirane. It consists of a hydroxy group as substituent on ethylene oxide. It can have two enantiomeric forms. The compound has been proposed as an intermediate in the interstellar formation of glycolaldehyde (a constitutional isomer of oxiranol) and the oxidation of acrolein in the environment.

It can be produced by reacting carbene with formic acid. To reduce the co-production of by-products, a mixture of diiodomethane (CH2I2) and zinc (with copper as catalyst) can be used as a carbene source. The production of carbene with this mixture favors the production of cyclic derivatives.