6015. 2-(Methylamino)ethanol

Nomenclature

CAS number: 109-83-1
Methyl(β-hydroxyethyl)amine; N-methylethanolamine; methylethylolamine.
C3H9NO; mol wt 75.11.
C 47.97%, H 12.08%, N 18.65%, O 21.30%.

Description and references

In vivo precursor of choline; isoln from mutant of Neurospora crassa which has lost its ability to synthesize choline: Horowitz, J. Biol. Chem. 162, 413 (1946). Prepn by mixing ethylene oxide with concd methylamine soln with external cooling: Knorr, Matthes, Ber. 31, 1069 (1898); Lowe et al., GB 763434 (1956 to Oxirane Ltd.); Nikolaev et al., Zh. Obshch. Khim. 33, 391 (1963). Toxicity studies: R. Hartung, H. H. Cornish, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 12, 486 (1968); B. Ballantyne, H.-W. Leung, Vet. Hum. Toxicol. 38, 422 (1996).

Chemical structure

Properties

Viscous liquid. Fishy odor. d20 0.937. bp760 155-156°; bp12 64-65°. nD20 1.4385. Miscible with water, alcohol, ether. Strong base. Corrosive to cork, metals. LD50 in rats (g/kg): 3.36 orally, 1.33 i.p. (Hartung). LD50 in male, female rats (mg/kg): 1908, 1391 orally; male, female rabbits (mg/kg): 1880, 1006 dermally (Ballantyne, Leung).

Caution

Direct contact may cause skin and eye irritation, skin corrosioin. See Ballantyne, Leung.