Abstract: 1,2,4-Butanetriol is an important C₄ polyol with widespread applications in military, pharmaceutical, and plastic industries. Its synthesis methods primarily include chemical synthesis, microbial fermentation, and catalytic hydrogenolysis of biomass. Traditional chemical synthesis offers advantages such as simplicity in process and high product purity but faces challenges related to environmental pollution and resource consumption. Microbial fermentation, based on microbial technologies, is environmentally friendly and renewable but requires careful attention to yield and cost control. Biomass catalytic hydrogenolysis demonstrates promising application prospects.However, the reaction mechanisms and catalysts in this method remain underexplored. To achieve efficient and sustainable synthesis of 1,2,4-butanetriol, future efforts should focus on the design of novel catalysts and the elucidation of their structure-performance relationships, thereby accelerating the development of green synthetic processes.

Key words: 1,2,4-butanetriol, catalytic synthesis, biomass, solid acid catalyst