butene-2

butene-2 [′byü‚tēn ′tü]

(organic chemistry)

CH₃CHCHCH₃A colorless, highly flammable gas, used to make butadiene and in the synthesis of four- and five-carbon organic molecules; the cis form, boiling point 3.7°C, is insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents, and is also known as high-boiling butene-2; the trans form, boiling point 0.88°C, is insoluble in water, soluble in most organic solvents, and is also known as low-boiling butene-2.