gamma-Butyrolactone, also known as GBL, butyrolactone, 1,4-lactone, 4-butyrolactone, 4-hydroxybutyric acid lactone, and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid lactone, is a hygroscopic colorless oily liquid with a weak characteristic odor and medium solubility in water (≥ 10 g / 100 ml). gamma-Butyrolactone is a common solvent and reagent in chemistry and is used as an aroma compound, as a stain remover, as a paint stripper, and as a gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) precursor and substitute.

Chemistry

gamma-Butyrolactone is a lactone. It is hydrolyzed under basic conditions, for example in a sodium hydroxide solution into sodium gamma-hydroxybutyrate, the sodium salt of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid. Under acidic conditions it forms an equilibrium mixture of both compounds. gamma-Butyrolactone can be synthesized from gamma-hydroxybutyric acid by removal of water or by distillation from such a mixture. Likewise it is sometimes synthesised in clandestine drug labaratories from tetrahydrofuran (THF), although this results in a far more impure product than if produced to industrial standards. One such process involves a reaction with aqueous sodium bromate, using Dichloromethane as a solvent, although even if conducted with precision (not always the case with low-scale production) yields will only reach ~67%. However GBL is also widely available in pure (>99%) form from a number of companies online, although it tends to be very expensive (as high as $30 for 100ml).

Recreational use

GBL is a prodrug of GHB. Metabolism takes place in stomach and blood plasma. GBL is longer acting and has a shorter onset than GHB. Otherwise, effects are similar to GHB, although weight for weight it is significantly more powerful, meaning dosage must be lowered accordingly. If ingested undiluted through the oral route, GBL can irritate innards. It is possible for oral ingestion of GBL to cause nausea and other similar problems, possibly more so than with GHB.

See also

• gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB)

External links

• Erowid on GBL
• GHB alternatives
• BBC News story: The paint stripper drug that kills, October 7, 2005.

Sedatives | Lactones | Solvents

Gamma-Butyrolacton | Gamma-butyrolactone | GBL | Гамма-бутиролактон | GBL | GBL