Crotonic acid ((2E)-but-2-enoic acid) is a short-chain unsaturated carboxylic acid described by the formula CH3CH=CHCO2H. The name crotonic acid was given because it was erroneously thought to be a saponification product of croton oil.[2] It crystallizes as colorless needles from hot water. With a cis-alkene, Isocrotonic acid is an isomer of crotonic acid. Crotonic acid is soluble in water and many organic solvents. Its odor is similar to that of butyric acid.

Quick Facts Names, Identifiers ...
Crotonic acid
Thumb
Thumb
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
(2E)-But-2-enoic acid
Other names
(E)-But-2-enoic acid
(E)-2-Butenoic acid
Crotonic acid
trans-2-Butenoic acid
β-Methylacrylic acid
3-Methylacrylic acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.003.213 Edit this at Wikidata
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C4H6O2/c1-2-3-4(5)6/h2-3H,1H3,(H,5,6)/b3-2+ checkY
    Key: LDHQCZJRKDOVOX-NSCUHMNNSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C4H6O2/c1-2-3-4(5)6/h2-3H,1H3,(H,5,6)/b3-2+
    Key: LDHQCZJRKDOVOX-NSCUHMNNBH
  • C/C=C/C(O)=O
  • O=C(O)/C=C/C
Properties
C4H6O2
Molar mass 86.090 g·mol−1
Density 1.02 g/cm3
Melting point 70 to 73 °C (158 to 163 °F; 343 to 346 K)
Boiling point 185 to 189 °C (365 to 372 °F; 458 to 462 K)
Acidity (pKa) 4.69 [1]
Hazards
Safety data sheet (SDS) SIRI.org
Related compounds
Other anions
crotonate
propionic acid
acrylic acid
butyric acid
succinic acid
malic acid
tartaric acid
fumaric acid
pentanoic acid
tetrolic acid
Related compounds
butanol
butyraldehyde
crotonaldehyde
2-butanone
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)
Close

Production

Crotonic acid produced industrially by oxidation of crotonaldehyde:[3][4]:230

CH3CH=CHCHO + 1/2 O2 → CH3CH=CHCO2H

A number of other methods exist, including the Knoevenagel condensation of acetaldehyde with malonic acid in pyridine:[3]:229

Thumb

The alkaline hydrolysis of allyl cyanide followed by the intramolecular rearrangement of the double bond:[5][6]

Thumb

Furthermore, it is formed during the distillation of 3-hydroxybutyric acid:[7]

Thumb

Properties

Crotonic acid crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system in the space group P21/a (space group 14, position 3) with the lattice parameters a = 971 pm, b = 690 pm, c = 775 pm and β = 104.0°. The unit cell contains four formula units.[8]

Reactions

Crotonic acid converts into butyric acid by hydrogenation or by reduction with zinc and sulfuric acid.[9]

Thumb

Upon treatment with chlorine or bromine, crotonic acid converts to 2,3-dihalobutyric acids:[9]

Thumb

Crotonic acid adds hydrogen bromide to form 3-bromobutyric acid.[9][10]

Thumb

The reaction with alkaline potassium permanganate solution affords 2,3-dihydroxybutyric acid.[9]

Thumb

Upon heating with acetic anhydride, crotonic acid converts to the acid anhydride:[11]

Esterification of crotonic acid using sulfuric acid as a catalyst provides the corresponding crotonate esters:

Thumb

Crotonic acid reacts with hypochlorous acid to 2-chloro-3-hydroxybutyric acid. This can either be reduced with sodium amalgam to butyric acid, can form with sulfuric acid 2-chlorobutenoic acid, react with hydrogen chloride to 2,3-dichlorobutenoic acid or with potassium ethoxide to 3-methyloxirane-2-carboxylic acid.[12]

Thumb

Crotonic acid reacts with ammonia at the alpha position in the presence of mercury(II) acetate. This reaction provides DL-threonine.[13]

Use

Crotonic acid is mainly used as a comonomer with vinyl acetate.[14] The resulting copolymers are used in paints and adhesives.[4]

Crotonyl chloride reacts with N-ethyl-2-methylaniline (N-ethyl-o-toluidine) to provide crotamiton, which is used as an agent against scabies.[15]

Thumb
Crotamiton synthesis

Safety

Its LD50 is 1 g/kg (oral, rats).[4] It irritates eyes, skin, and respiratory system.[14]

See also

References

Wikiwand in your browser!

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.

Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.