1,2-Butanediol is a butanediol in which the two hydroxy groups are located at positions 1 and 2. It has a role as a metabolite. It is a butanediol and a glycol, and a byproduct of the production of 1,4-butanediol from butadiene. It is also a byproduct of the catalytic hydrocracking of starches and sugars such as sorbitol to ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.