ðə mˌɛɾəbˈɑːlɪk fˈʌŋkʃən ʌv tˈuː,θɹˈiːbjˈuːteɪndɪˌɑːl ɪz nˌɑːt nˈoʊn, ɔːlðˈoʊ sˌʌm hæv spˈɛkjʊlˌeɪɾᵻd ðˌɐɾɪt wʌz ɐn ˌɛvəlˈuːʃənˌɛɹi ɐdvˈæntɪdʒ fɔːɹ ðiːz mˌaɪkɹoʊˈɔːɹɡənˌɪzəmz tə pɹədˈuːs ɐ nˈuːtɹəl pɹˈɑːdʌkt ðæts lˈɛs ɪnhˈɪbɪtˌoːɹi ðɐn ˈʌðɚ pˈɑːɹʃəl ˌɑːksɪdˈeɪʃən pɹˈɑːdʌkts ænd dˈʌzənt ɹᵻdˈuːs ðə pˈiː ˈeɪtʃ æz mˈʌtʃ æz mˈɪkst ˈæsɪdz.
The metabolic function of 2,3-butanediol is not known, although some have speculated that it was an evolutionary advantage for these microorganisms to produce a neutral product that's less inhibitory than other partial oxidation products and doesn't reduce the pH as much as mixed acids.