Aminomethanol is the

amino alcohol In organic chemistry, alkanolamines are organic compounds that contain both hydroxyl () and amino (, , and ) functional groups on an alkane backbone. The term alkanolamine is a broad class term that is sometimes used as a subclassification. Meth ...

with the chemical formula of H₂NCH₂OH. With an

amino In chemistry, amines (, ) are compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are formally derivatives of ammonia (), wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent su ...

group and an

alcohol Alcohol most commonly refers to: * Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom * Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks Alcohol may also refer to: Chemicals * Ethanol, one of sev ...

group on the same carbon atom, the compound is also an

hemiaminal In organic chemistry, a hemiaminal (also carbinolamine) is a functional group or type of chemical compound that has a hydroxyl group and an amine attached to the same carbon atom: . R can be hydrogen or an alkyl group. Hemiaminals are intermediat ...

. In aqueous solution, methanolamine exists in equilibrium with

formaldehyde Formaldehyde ( , ) ( systematic name methanal) is a naturally occurring organic compound with the formula and structure . The pure compound is a pungent, colourless gas that polymerises spontaneously into paraformaldehyde (refer to section ...

and

ammonia Ammonia is an inorganic compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . A stable binary hydride, and the simplest pnictogen hydride, ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinct pungent smell. Biologically, it is a common nitrogeno ...

. It is an intermediate en route to

hexamethylenetetramine Hexamethylenetetramine, also known as methenamine, hexamine, or urotropin, is a heterocyclic organic compound with the formula (CH2)6N4. This white crystalline compound is highly soluble in water and polar organic solvents. It has a cage-like s ...

. The reaction can be conducted in gas phase and in solution. Synthesis Hexamine

References

Primary alcohols Amines {{Amine-stub