Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 18, 2026

Facile Preparation of 2Z,4E-Dienamides by the Olefination of Electron-deficient Alkenes with Allyl Acetate
Published on: June 21, 2017
One-Step Production of 1,3-Butadiene from 2,3-Butanediol Dehydration
Xi Liu1,2, Viktoria Fabos1, Stuart Taylor1
1Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK.
Abstract:
We report the direct production of 1,3-butadiene from the dehydration of 2,3-butandiol by using alumina as catalyst. Under optimized kinetic reaction conditions, the production of methyl ethyl ketone and isobutyraldehyde, formed via the pinacol-pinacolone rearrangement, was markedly reduced and almost 80 % selectivity to 1,3-butadiene and 1,3-butadiene could be achieved. The presence of water plays a critical role in the inhibition of oligomerization. The amphoteric nature of γ-Al2 O3 was identified as important and this contributed to the improved catalytic selectivity when compared with other acidic catalysts.
Related Concept Videos
Electrophilic 1,2- and 1,4-Addition of X2 to 1,3-Butadiene
Electrophilic 1,2- and 1,4-Addition of HX to 1,3-Butadiene
Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols to Alkenes
Electrophilic Addition of HX to 1,3-Butadiene: Thermodynamic vs Kinetic Control
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Acid-Catalyzed Hydration

