3Hydroxybutanone
3-Hydroxybutanone, commonly known as acetoin, is an organic compound with the formula C4H8O2. It features a carbonyl group (ketone) at carbon 2 and a hydroxyl group at carbon 3, giving the structure CH3-CO-CH(OH)-CH3. The molecule is chiral at the C3 position, so it exists as two enantiomers (R and S) or as a racemate.
Acetoin occurs naturally in various fermented foods and is produced by several microorganisms during carbohydrate metabolism,
Industrially, 3-hydroxybutanone can be prepared by chemical synthesis or by biotechnological fermentation. It is valued as
Safety and handling: acetoin is used in small quantities as a food flavoring agent and should be