Definition: 4-carbon straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbons substituted with two hydroxyl groups. The hydroxyl groups cannot be on the same carbon atom.
Other names Dihydroxybutanes; Butanediols; Glycols, Butylene
secoisolariciresinol [ 2,3-bis((4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl)-1,4-butanediol,knotolan,secoisolariciresinol, (R*,S*)-isomer ] RN given refers to ((R-(R*,R*))-isomer); RN for cpd without isomeric designation not available 8/89; precursor of lignans found in human urine; structure given in first source