Produced artificially, it is a colorless, volatile, pungent liquid at standard temperature and pressure.

Symmetry analysis using the Molecular Symmetry Group[4][5] G36 shows that one would need to analyse its high resolution rotation-vibration Raman spectrum to determine its equilibrium structure.

2-Butyne (dimethylethyne) forms with 5-decyne (dibutylethyne), 4-octyne (dipropylethyne) and 3-hexyne (diethylethyne) a group of symmetric alkynes.

2-Butyne can be synthesized by the rearrangement reaction of ethylacetylene in a solution of ethanolic potassium hydroxide.

[6] 2-Butyne, along with propyne, is used to synthesize alkylated hydroquinones in the total synthesis of Vitamin E.[7]