2-Hydroxybutyric acid (α-Hydroxybutyric acid) is converted from 2-Aminobutyric acid, and 2-oxobutyric acid is an intermediate metabolite.

Physicochemical Properties

Molecular Formula	C4H8O3
Molecular Weight	104.10452
Exact Mass	104.047
CAS #	600-15-7
Related CAS #	(R)-2-Hydroxybutanoic acid;20016-85-7;Sodium 2-hydroxybutanoate;5094-24-6;(S)-2-Hydroxybutanoic acid;3347-90-8
PubChem CID	11266
Appearance	White to off-white <44.2°C solid powder,>44.2°C liquid
Density	1.2±0.1 g/cm3
Boiling Point	238.3±13.0 °C at 760 mmHg
Melting Point	44ºC
Flash Point	112.2±16.3 °C
Vapour Pressure	0.0±1.1 mmHg at 25°C
Index of Refraction	1.455
LogP	-0.17
Hydrogen Bond Donor Count	2
Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count	3
Rotatable Bond Count	2
Heavy Atom Count	7
Complexity	69.3
Defined Atom Stereocenter Count	0
SMILES	CCC(C(=O)O)O
InChi Key	AFENDNXGAFYKQO-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChi Code	InChI=1S/C4H8O3/c1-2-3(5)4(6)7/h3,5H,2H2,1H3,(H,6,7)
Chemical Name	2-hydroxybutanoic acid
HS Tariff Code	2934.99.9001
Storage	Powder-20°C 3 years 4°C 2 years In solvent -80°C 6 months -20°C 1 month
Shipping Condition	Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

Biological Activity

References

[1]. The formation of 2-hydroxybutyric acid in experimental animals. Clin Chim Acta. 1975 Jan 6;58(1):23-32. [2]. Improvement in insulin resistance after gastric bypass surgery is correlated with a decline in plasma 2-hydroxybutyric acid. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2018 Aug;14(8):1126-1132. [3]. Vancomycin pretreatment attenuates acetaminophen-induced liver injury through 2-hydroxybutyric acid. J Pharm Anal. 2020 Dec;10(6):560-570. [4]. Metabolomic analysis-identified 2-hydroxybutyric acid might be a key metabolite of severe preeclampsia. Open Life Sci. 2023 Feb 28;18(1):20220572.

Additional Infomation

2-hydroxybutyric acid is a hydroxybutyric acid having a single hydroxyl group located at position 2; urinary secretion of 2-hydroxybutyric acid is increased with alcohol ingestion or vigorous physical exercise and is associated with lactic acidosis and ketoacidosis in humans and diabetes in animals. It has a role as a human metabolite and an algal metabolite. It is a hydroxybutyric acid and a 2-hydroxy monocarboxylic acid. It is functionally related to a butyric acid. It is a conjugate acid of a 2-hydroxybutyrate. 2-Hydroxybutyric acid is a metabolite found in or produced by Escherichia coli (strain K12, MG1655). 2-Hydroxybutyric acid has been reported in Aloe africana, Capsicum annuum, and other organisms with data available. 2-hydroxybutyric acid is a metabolite found in or produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Solubility Data

Solubility (In Vitro)

DMSO : ~100 mg/mL (~960.61 mM )

Solubility (In Vivo)

Solubility in Formulation 1: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (24.02 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 40% PEG300 + 5% Tween80 + 45% Saline (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution. For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 25.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 400 μL PEG300 and mix evenly; then add 50 μL Tween-80 to the above solution and mix evenly; then add 450 μL normal saline to adjust the volume to 1 mL. Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH₂ O to obtain a clear solution. Solubility in Formulation 2: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (24.02 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% (20% SBE-β-CD in Saline) (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution. For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 25.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of 20% SBE-β-CD physiological saline solution and mix evenly. Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution. Solubility in Formulation 3: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (24.02 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% Corn Oil (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution. For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 25.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of corn oil and mix evenly.  (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)

Preparing Stock Solutions		1 mg	5 mg	10 mg
	1 mM	9.6061 mL	48.0307 mL	96.0615 mL
	5 mM	1.9212 mL	9.6061 mL	19.2123 mL
	10 mM	0.9606 mL	4.8031 mL	9.6061 mL

*Note: Please select an appropriate solvent for the preparation of stock solution based on your experiment needs. For most products, DMSO can be used for preparing stock solutions (e.g. 5 mM, 10 mM, or 20 mM concentration); some products with high aqueous solubility may be dissolved in water directly. Solubility information is available at the above Solubility Data section. Once the stock solution is prepared, aliquot it to routine usage volumes and store at -20°C or -80°C. Avoid repeated freeze and thaw cycles.