2-Bromobutyric acid is the organic compound with the molecular formula . It is a colorless liquid.
The 2-position is stereogenic, so the compound is chiral. Optical resolution can be effected using strychnine.
2-Bromobutyric acid is used as a building block chemical, such as in the preparation of Levetiracetam, an anticonvulsant medication.
Production (±)-2-Bromobuyric acid may be prepared by the acid-catalyzed Hell–Volhard–Zelinsky reaction, where butyric acid is treated with elemental bromine. It is one of many compounds that arise adventiously from the use of bromine as an antiseptic.
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