2-Butanol

2-Butanol or sec-butanol is an organic compound. It is one of the types of butanol, an alcohol with the chemical formula . It is mostly used as an ingredient to make butanone, an important solvent.

 Preparation 
2-Butanol can be made by the addition of water (hydration) to 1-butene or 2-butene. The hydration of 1-butene to 2-butanol is predicted by Markovnikov's rule. A strong acid like sulfuric acid is normally used as a catalyst.

 Stereochemistry 
2-Butanol is the smallest chiral alcohol, with two stereoisomers.
125px125px(R)-2-butanol(S)-2-butanol

Category:Alcohols
Category:Butyl compounds 
Category:Butane derivatives