Gamma-Butyrolactone (gBL)

γ-butyrolactone; 1,4-Lactone; 4-Butyrolactone; 4-Hydroxybutyric Acid Lactone; Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid Lactone; Oxolan-2-One

Gamma-Butyrolactone (gBL)
gamma-Butyrolactone is a hygroscopic colorless oily liquid with a weak characteristic odor and is soluble in water. GBL is a common solvent and reagent in chemistry and is used as an aroma compound, as a stain remover, as a superglue remover, as a paint stripper, and as a solvent in some wet aluminium electrolytic capacitors. In humans it acts as a prodrug for GHB, and it is used as a recreational intoxicant with effects similar to alcohol. GBL is a lactone. It is hydrolyzed under basic conditions, for example in a sodium hydroxide solution into sodium gamma-hydroxybutyrate, the sodium salt of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid. Under acidic conditions it forms an equilibrium mixture of both compounds. These compounds then may go on to form a polymer. When treated with a non-nucleophilic base, like lithium diisopropylamide, GBL can become an alpha-carbon nucleophile.

Organism species: Pan-species (General)