1-Aminopropan-2-ol is the

organic compound Some chemical authorities define an organic compound as a chemical compound that contains a carbon–hydrogen or carbon–carbon bond; others consider an organic compound to be any chemical compound that contains carbon. For example, carbon-co ...

with the formula . It is an amino alcohol. The term ''isopropanolamine'' may also refer more generally to the additional homologs diisopropanolamine (DIPA) and triisopropanolamine (TIPA). 1-Aminopropan-2-ol is

chiral Chirality () is a property of asymmetry important in several branches of science. The word ''chirality'' is derived from the Greek language, Greek (''kheir''), "hand", a familiar chiral object. An object or a system is ''chiral'' if it is dist ...

. It can be prepared by the addition of aqueous

ammonia Ammonia is an inorganic chemical compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the chemical formula, formula . A Binary compounds of hydrogen, stable binary hydride and the simplest pnictogen hydride, ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinctive pu ...

propylene oxide Propylene oxide is an epoxide with the molecular formula C3H6O. This colourless volatile liquid with an odour similar to ether, is produced on a large scale industrially. Its major application is its use for the production of polyether polyols f ...

Biosynthesis

(''R'')-1-Aminopropan-2-ol is one of the components incorporated in the biosynthesis of cobalamin. The ''O''-phosphate ester is produced from

threonine Threonine (symbol Thr or T) is an amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. It contains an α-amino group (which is in the protonated −NH form when dissolved in water), a carboxyl group (which is in the deprotonated −COO− ...

by the enzyme Threonine-phosphate decarboxylase.

Applications

The isopropanolamines are used as buffers. They are good solubilizers of oil and fat, so they are used to neutralize fatty acids and sulfonic acid-based surfactants. Racemic 1-aminopropan-2-ol is typically used in metalworking fluid, waterborne coatings, personal care products, and in the production of

titanium dioxide Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium(IV) oxide or titania , is the inorganic compound derived from titanium with the chemical formula . When used as a pigment, it is called titanium white, Pigment White 6 (PW6), or Colour Index Internationa ...

and

polyurethane Polyurethane (; often abbreviated PUR and PU) is a class of polymers composed of organic chemistry, organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links. In contrast to other common polymers such as polyethylene and polystyrene, polyurethane term ...

s. It is an intermediate in the synthesis of a variety of pharmaceutical drugs. (''R'')-1-aminopropan-2-ol is metabolised to aminoacetone by the enzyme (''R'')-aminopropanol dehydrogenase. Synthesis of Hexylcaine is one application.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amino-2-propanol, 1- Amines Secondary alcohols Amino alcohols