Diol (Noun)
Meaning
Any of a class of alcohols having 2 hydroxyl groups in each molecule.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Ethylene glycol is the simplest and most important of the diols used as antifreeze and coolant in automotive engines.
- Butanediol is used in the manufacture of a variety of polymeric materials.
- Polymer chains are produced when the hydroxyl groups in diol molecules react with each other to form ether linkages.
- One major industrial use of propylene oxide is in the manufacture of polyether polyols and other polyols such as the diol known as dipropylene glycol.
- When butanediol undergoes an intermolecular dehydration reaction with a catalyst it can be converted to the butylene ethers and butyl butylene glycol ethers which have important uses in chemical manufacturing.