2,3-Butanediol

1Identification

Name

2,3-Butanediol

IUPAC name

butane-2,3-diol

CAS number

513-85-9 (also reported: 35007-63-7)

EC number

208-173-6

Molecular formula

C4H10O2

Molecular weight

90.12 g/mol

InChIKey

OWBTYPJTUOEWEK-UHFFFAOYSA-N

SMILES

CC(C(C)O)O

PubChem CID

262

Synonyms

2,3-butanediol, Butane-2,3-diol, 2,3-butylene glycol, 2,3-Dihydroxybutane, Dimethylethylene glycol, Pseudobutylene glycol, Sym-dimethylethylene glycol, RefChem:441921, Dimethylene glycol, DL-2,3-Butanediol, Omega-butylene glycol, 2,3-Butanediol, (R*,R*)-(.+/-.)-, 2,3-butanodiol, 2,3-Butanediol(mixture of stereoisomers)

Recommended uses

• CIR ingredient: 2,3-Butanediol
  Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
• Used in resins, as a solvent for dyes, as a blending agent, and as a crosslinking agent for naphthalene-1,5-diisocyanate in the production of specific hard-rubber products; [HSDB]
  Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
• For 2,3-butanediol (USEPA/OPP Pesticide Code: 642202) there are 0 labels match. /SRP: Not registered for current use in the U.S., but approved pesticide uses may change periodically and so federal, state and local authorities must be consulted for currently approved uses./
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Use categories: EPA Safer Chemical Functional Use Classes -> Solvents · Safer Chemical Classes -> Green circle - The chemical has been verified to be of low concern

Description

• Butane-2,3-diol is a butanediol in which hydroxylation is at C-2 and C-3. It is a glycol, a secondary alcohol and a butanediol.
  ChEBI
• The Panel also concluded that the available data are insufficient to make a determination that ... 2,3-Butanediol ... is safe under the intended conditions of use in cosmetic formulations.
  Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
• butane-2,3-diol has been reported in Bacillus subtilis and Streptomyces xanthophaeus with data available.
  LOTUS - the natural products occurrence database

2Hazard identification

Signal word

Warning

Pictograms

None

Classification source

Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Precautionary statements

NFPA 704 rating

• 1 - Materials that, under emergency conditions, can cause significant irritation.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• 1 - Materials that must be preheated before ignition can occur. Materials require considerable preheating, under all ambient temperature conditions, before ignition and combustion can occur.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• 0 - Materials that in themselves are normally stable, even under fire conditions.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Hazards summary

• Emergency treatment: Glycols; [HSDB] Intraperitoneal dose of 3920 mg/kg was lowest dose to produce ataxia in rats; [RTECS] May cause irritation; [MSDSonline]
  Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases

3Composition / information on ingredients

This page describes the pure substance. Commercial products may be solutions or mixtures. Check Section 3 of your supplier's SDS for concentrations and other ingredients.

4First-aid measures

Not available in the public sources we compile. Check Section 4 of the supplier's SDS.

5Fire-fighting measures

• Suitable extinguishing media: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Advice for firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Use water spray to cool unopened containers.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

6Accidental release measures

Spill cleanup

• ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES: Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures: Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Remove all sources of ignition. Beware of vapors accumulating to form explosive concentrations. Vapors can accumulate in low areas. Environmental precautions: Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so. Do not let product enter drains. Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up: Contain spillage, and then collect with an electrically protected vacuum cleaner or by wet-brushing and place in container for disposal according to local regulations. Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

7Handling and storage

• Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Hygroscopic.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

8Exposure controls / personal protection

No occupational exposure limits found in our sources.

Personal protective equipment

• Eye/face protection: Safety glasses with side-shields conforming to EN166. Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Skin protection: Handle with gloves.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Body Protection: Impervious clothing. The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Respiratory protection: Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a full-face respirator with multipurpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls. If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator. Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

9Physical and chemical properties

10Stability and reactivity

Incompatible materials and hazardous reactions

• Incompatible materials: Acid chlorides, acid anhydrides, oxidizing agents, chloroformates, reducing agents, zinc.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Incompatible with oxidizing materials.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Chemical stability

• Stable under recommended storage conditions.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

11Toxicological information

Not available in the public sources we compile. Check Section 11 of the supplier's SDS.

12Ecological information

Environmental fate

• 2,3-Butanediol's production and use as a solvent for dyes, in resins, as an intermediate, and as a blending agent may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams. 2,3-Butanediol is a fermentation volatile released from many types of plants. If released to air, a vapor pressure of 0.24 mm Hg at 25 °C indicates 2,3-butanediol will exist solely as a vapor in the atmosphere. Vapor-phase 2,3-butanediol will be degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals; the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 16 hours.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

13Disposal considerations

• SRP: Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in air, soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations. If it is possible or reasonable use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Product: This combustible material may be burned in a chemical incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber. Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company; Contaminated packaging: Dispose of as unused product.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

14Transport information

Not available in the public sources we compile. Check Section 14 of the supplier's SDS.

How DOT hazard classes work →

15Regulatory information

No specific US regulatory listings found in our sources. Check Section 15 of your supplier's SDS for TSCA, SARA 313, CERCLA, Prop 65 and state listings.

Overview of SDS regulations (OSHA HazCom, WHMIS, REACH/CLP) →

16Other information

Compiled from PubChem CID 262 and the sources it aggregates (attributed inline). Data retrieved 2026-10-12. This summary describes the pure substance and is not a supplier SDS.