SWIM was thinking that 1,4-butanediol could be formed by a grignard reaction with formaldehyde and 1,2-dibromoethane... would this conceivably work?
a3d0a3m
No, as you cannot form a grignard reagent of 1,2-dibromoethane.
Br-CH2-CH2-Br + Mg -> H2C=CH2 + MgBr2
if you're ready to such lengths to make a simple
aliphatic alcohol, why not reduce succinic (or fumaric
or maleic) acid? just buy a bottle of vodka.