cis2butenoate

Cis2butenoate, also known as crotonate, is the anion, salt, or ester of cis-2-butenoic acid. Cis-2-butenoic acid is an unsaturated carboxylic acid with the chemical formula C4H6O2. It is a geometric isomer of trans-2-butenoic acid, commonly known as crotonic acid. In cis-2-butenoate, the hydrogen atoms attached to the double-bonded carbons are on the same side of the double bond, whereas in trans-2-butenoate, they are on opposite sides. This difference in spatial arrangement leads to distinct chemical and physical properties.

Cis-2-butenoate can be found in various biological and chemical contexts. For instance, it is an intermediate in certain metabolic pathways. It can also be synthesized through chemical reactions, often involving the dehydrohalogenation of 3-halobutyrates. The ester derivatives of cis-2-butenoic acid can be used as building blocks in organic synthesis, contributing to the creation of more complex molecules. While less common than its trans isomer in some applications, cis-2-butenoate plays a role in specific chemical transformations and biochemical processes. The presence of the double bond makes it susceptible to addition reactions, and the carboxylate group provides the characteristic reactivity of carboxylic acid derivatives.