描述
Butanone, also known as methyl ethyl ketone or mek, is a member of the class of compounds known as ketones. Ketones are organic compounds in which a carbonyl group is bonded to two carbon atoms R2C=O (neither R may be a hydrogen atom). Ketones that have one or more alpha-hydrogen atoms undergo keto-enol tautomerization, the tautomer being an enol. Thus, butanone is considered to be an oxygenated hydrocarbon lipid molecule. Butanone is soluble (in water) and an extremely weak acidic compound (based on its pKa). Butanone is an acetone, camphor, and ethereal tasting compound and can be found in a number of food items such as arctic blackberry, onion-family vegetables, sweet orange, and devilfish, which makes butanone a potential biomarker for the consumption of these food products. Butanone can be found primarily in blood, feces, saliva, and urine, as well as in human pancreas and stratum corneum tissues. Moreover, butanone is found to be associated with alcoholism. Butanone is a non-carcinogenic (not listed by IARC) potentially toxic compound.