1-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-butene

1-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-butene is a chemical compound with the formula CH2=CHCH(OH)CH2Cl. It's a **reactive intermediate** that is not typically isolated or used directly in research. It's **important as a potential precursor** to other compounds and can be involved in various **chemical reactions** and **synthetic processes**.

**Here's why it's important in research:**

* **Precursor to other valuable compounds:** It can be used as a building block for synthesizing various organic compounds, including pharmaceutical agents, agrochemicals, and materials.
* **Study of reaction mechanisms:** Researchers may study the reactions involving 1-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-butene to understand the mechanisms and kinetics of chemical transformations. This can lead to developing new synthetic methods or catalysts.
* **Exploration of chemical reactivity:** Due to its reactive nature, it can be used to investigate the reactivity of different functional groups and explore the potential of new chemical reactions.

**However, it's important to note that 1-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-butene is a highly reactive compound.** It's often generated in situ (within a reaction mixture) and not isolated. This is because it's prone to decomposition and may be difficult to handle.

**To summarize, while not a commonly used compound itself, 1-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-butene plays a significant role in research as a potential precursor, a tool for studying reaction mechanisms, and a substrate for exploring chemical reactivity.**