2,3-Butanediamine

2,3-Butanediamine are organic compounds with the formula CH3CH(NH2)CH(NH2)CH3. Three stereoisomers exist, meso and a pair of enantiomers. These diamines form complexes with transition metals.

Synthesis
2,3-Butanediamines can be prepared by hydrolyzing 2-ethoxy-4,5-dihydro-4,5-dimethylimidazole with barium hydroxide. Alternative, it is produced by reduction of dimethylglyoxime with lithium aluminium hydride. The meso and the d,l diastereomers can be separated by fractional crystallization of the hydrochlorides. The enantiomers have been resolved using tartrate salts.

Reactions
In coordination chemistry, 2,3-butanediamine (abbreviated bn) has illuminates aspects of the stereochemistry. The structure of [Co(meso-2,3-butanediamine)2CO3]+ confirms the presence of the rarely observed axial methyl groups on each of the diamine-cobalt rings.

Related compounds

 * 1,2-Diaminopropane, chiral 1,2-diamine
 * 1,2-Diaminocyclohexane, a 1,2-diamine that also exists as three stereoisomers