1,4-butanediol was first prepared in 1890 by acid hydrolysis of N,N'-dinitro- 1,4-butanediamine.
Other early preparations were by reduction of succinaldehyde or succinic esters and by saponification of the diacetate prepared from 1,4-dihalobutanes. Catalytic hydrogenation of butynediol, now the principal commercial route, was first described in 1910.

Butanediol is specified as 99.5% minimum pure, determined by gas chromatography, solidifying at 19.6 ℃ minimum. Moisture is 0.04% maximum, determined by Karl Fischer analysis (directly or by a toluene azeotrope).

The IUPAC name of this chemical is butane-1,4-diol. With the CAS registry number 110-63-4 and EINECS registry number 203-786-5, it is also named as 1,4-Butanediol. In addition, the molecular formula is C₄H₁₀O₂ and the molecular weight is 90.121. It is odorless colorless liquid or solid (depending upon temperature).This colorless viscous liquid is derived from butane by placement of alcohol groups at each end of the chain. It is one of four stable isomers of butanediol. What's more, it is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, mineral acids, acid chlorides, acid anhydrides. It should be stored in a cool, ventilated and dry place. The storage place must stay away from oxidant and water.

Physical properties about this chemical are: (1)# of Rule of 5 Violations: 0 ; (2)ACD/BCF (pH 5.5): 1; (3)ACD/BCF (pH 7.4): 1; (4)ACD/KOC (pH 5.5): 9.112; (5)ACD/KOC (pH 7.4): 9.112; (6)#H bond acceptors: 2; (7)#H bond donors: 2; (8)#Freely Rotating Bonds: 5; (9)Polar Surface Area: 40.46 Å²; (10)Index of Refraction: 1.441; (11)Molar Refractivity: 23.65 cm³; (12)Molar Volume: 89.574 cm³; (13)Polarizability: 9.376 10^-24cm³; (14)Surface Tension: 39.637 dyne/cm; (15)Density: 1.006 g/cm³; (16)Flash Point: 105.909 °C; (17)Enthalpy of Vaporization: 54.011 kJ/mol; (18)Boiling Point: 227.999 °C at 760 mmHg; (19)Vapour Pressure: 0.015 mmHg at 25°C.

Preparation of 1,4-Butanediol: it can be prepared by 1,4-dichlorobutene. Through the hydrolysis and hydrogenation, you can get 1,4-Butanediol.

Uses of 1,4-Butanediol: it can be used in the production of THF, γ-butyllactone and butanediol polyp-phthalate. It also can be used as chain extender and raw materials of polyester to produce polyurethane elastomer and soft polyurethane foam plastics. It has good absorbency and increased flexibility, can make gelatin softener and SAP. In addition, it can prepare derivative of N-methyl pyrrole, N-vinyl pyrrole and other pyrrole, also can be used in preparation of vitamin B6, pesticides and herbicides. What's more, it can react with butylamine to get 1-butyl-pyrrolidine. This reaction will need catalyst RuCl3. The reaction time is 5 hours at reaction temperature of 220 °C. The yield is about 36%.

When you are using this chemical, please be cautious about it as the following:
It is harmful if swallowed. You should wear suitable protective clothing during using it.

You can still convert the following datas into molecular structure:
(1)SMILES: C(CCO)CO
(2)InChI: InChI=1/C4H10O2/c5-3-1-2-4-6/h5-6H,1-4H2
(3)InChIKey: WERYXYBDKMZEQL-UHFFFAOYAD

The toxicity data is as follows:

Organism	Test Type	Route	Reported Dose (Normalized Dose)	Effect	Source
guinea pig	LD50	oral	1200mg/kg (1200mg/kg)	BEHAVIORAL: ALTERED SLEEP TIME (INCLUDING CHANGE IN RIGHTING REFLEX) BEHAVIORAL: SOMNOLENCE (GENERAL DEPRESSED ACTIVITY) BLOOD: OTHER CHANGES	Hygiene and Sanitation Vol. 33(1-3), Pg. 41, 1968.
man	LDLo	rectal	429mg/kg (429mg/kg)		Pharmazie. Vol. 3, Pg. 110, 1948.
mouse	LD50	intraperitoneal	1650mg/kg (1650mg/kg)		Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. Vol. 49, Pg. 385, 1979.
mouse	LD50	oral	2062mg/kg (2062mg/kg)	BEHAVIORAL: ALTERED SLEEP TIME (INCLUDING CHANGE IN RIGHTING REFLEX) BEHAVIORAL: SOMNOLENCE (GENERAL DEPRESSED ACTIVITY) BLOOD: OTHER CHANGES	Hygiene and Sanitation Vol. 33(1-3), Pg. 41, 1968.
rabbit	LD50	oral	2531mg/kg (2531mg/kg)	BEHAVIORAL: ALTERED SLEEP TIME (INCLUDING CHANGE IN RIGHTING REFLEX) BLOOD: OTHER CHANGES BEHAVIORAL: SOMNOLENCE (GENERAL DEPRESSED ACTIVITY)	Hygiene and Sanitation Vol. 33(1-3), Pg. 41, 1968.
rat	LCLo	inhalation	15gm/m3/4H (15000mg/m3)	SENSE ORGANS AND SPECIAL SENSES: OTHER CHANGES: OLFACTION LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: OTHER CHANGES	Inhalation Toxicology. Vol. 3, Pg. 379, 1991.
rat	LD50	intraperitoneal	1070mg/kg (1070mg/kg)		Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. Vol. 26, Pg. 597, 1974.
rat	LD50	oral	1525mg/kg (1525mg/kg)	BEHAVIORAL: ALTERED SLEEP TIME (INCLUDING CHANGE IN RIGHTING REFLEX) BEHAVIORAL: SOMNOLENCE (GENERAL DEPRESSED ACTIVITY) BLOOD: OTHER CHANGES	Hygiene and Sanitation Vol. 33(1-3), Pg. 41, 1968.
women	LDLo	unreported	300mg/kg (300mg/kg)	BEHAVIORAL: ALTERED SLEEP TIME (INCLUDING CHANGE IN RIGHTING REFLEX)	Pharmazie. Vol. 3, Pg. 110, 1948.