1201. Bicine

Nomenclature

CAS number: 150-25-4
N,N-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine; di(hydroxyethyl)glycine; N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl)aminoacetic acid; N,N-di(hydroxyethyl)aminoacetic acid; diethylolglycine; 2-HxG.
C6H13NO4; mol wt 163.17.
C 44.17%, H 8.03%, N 8.58%, O 39.22%.

Description and references

One of the zwitterionic amino acids known as “Good” buffers, active in the pH range 6-8.5. Prepn by hydrolysis of its lactone (obtained from glycine and ethylene oxide): Pascal, Compt. Rend. 245, 1318 (1957); from diethanolamine and bromoacetic acid: N. E. Good et al., Biochemistry 5, 467 (1966). Crystal structure: V. Cody et al., Acta Crystallogr. 33B, 905 (1977). Use as sequestering agent: A. Grawitz, Rev. Tech. Ind. Cuir 65, 187, 190 (1973), C.A. 80, 49281h (1974). Temperature effects on pKa: M. L. Soni, R. C. Kapoor, Int. J. Quantum Chem. 20, 385 (1981). Use as a buffer: A. L. Remisov, Biokhimiya 25, 323 (1960); S. Ito et al., Histochem. J. 16, 489 (1984).

Chemical structure

Properties

Crystals from dil ethanol, mp 193-195° (slight decompn). pKa (20°): 8.35. pKa2 (0.1M): 0°, 8.7; 20°, 8.35; 37°, 8.2. ΔpKa/°C -0.018. Saturated aq soln is 1.1M at 0°. Slightly sol in water. Forms a water-soluble sodium salt.

Use

Biological buffer and chelating agent.