Vinyl alcohol

• Vinyl alcohol
• Hydroxyethen
• Hydroxy ethylene

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Ethenol, also called vinyl alcohol, Hydroxyethen or hydroxy ethylene, is an unstable unsaturated alcohol ( alkenol ) with the chemical formula C2H4O ( H2C = CHOH).

Tautomerism

Vinyl alcohol is the simplest enol; it isomerized in a free state under normal conditions immediately to its tautomer acetaldehyde, unless - is stabilized - such as carbonyl iron or platinum complex Pt ( acac ) ( η2 - C2H3OH ) Cl. Stable are the ether ( vinyl ether ) and esters ( vinyl acetate) of ethenol.

The thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol ( PVA or PVOH), which is derived from this monomer can therefore be indirectly prepared by the polymerization of vinyl acetates and the subsequent hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetates.

Interstellar occurrence

Between May and June 2001, astronomers AJ Apponi and Barry E. Turner found using the 12 - m radio telescope of the National Science Foundation in the Kitt Peak National Observatory ethenol in the molecular cloud Sagittarius B.