Ethyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate

Ethyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (CAS No.: 24915-95-5) is a chiral β-hydroxy ester widely employed as a versatile intermediate and building block in biomedical research and drug discovery, particularly for the stereoselective synthesis of biologically active molecules and pharmaceutical intermediates. Owing to its defined (R)-configuration, it serves as a valuable precursor for constructing enantiomerically enriched compounds used in medicinal chemistry, fine chemical production, and the development of bioactive small molecules. In biochemical contexts, it is frequently utilized as a substrate or probe in enzyme-catalyzed reactions, enabling investigation of enzyme specificity, stereoselectivity, and catalytic mechanisms, especially in studies involving dehydrogenases, esterases, and metabolic pathways related to short-chain hydroxy acids. While it does not act as a direct pharmacological inhibitor or receptor ligand, its functional relevance is linked to its role in metabolic modeling and synthetic pathway engineering, with observed activity in enzymatic systems typically occurring in the nanomolar to micromolar range depending on enzyme affinity and assay conditions. This compound is commonly applied in in vitro enzymology assays, metabolic pathway reconstruction, and chiral drug synthesis workflows, as well as in cell-based systems exploring intermediary metabolism; experimental concentrations or dosing regimens are generally optimized according to specific study designs and target outcomes.