(1R,2S)-2-Phenylcyclopropanamine-L-Tartrate: An In-Depth Commentary

Historical Development

Chemists started exploring cyclopropane derivatives back in the early 1900s, drawn to their unusual ring strain and reactivity. By the mid-20th century, the pharmaceutical sector recognized the power of chirality, and enantiomers like (1R,2S)-2-phenylcyclopropanamine came into focus for their biological punch. Synthesis took time to refine. Getting that right mix of ring and hand-specific (the “R” and “S” business) configuration built on decades of work by both organic and medicinal chemists. Tartrate salts didn’t appear out of thin air; tartaric acid, abundant and chiral in its own right, proved useful as a resolving agent. Lab notes from the 1960s and ’70s show researchers grappling with reliable separation and characterization, often with pencil-drawn spectra and glass columns instead of HPLC. Here, observation and experience trumped computation, and it’s clear why the compound holds a spot in chemistry textbooks and pharma libraries.

Product Overview

(1R,2S)-2-Phenylcyclopropanamine-L-tartrate isn’t a compound you spot in a random catalog. Labs reach for it when specific chiral building blocks are required, especially in neuroactive and psychotropic research. People close to custom synthesis or specialty pharma chemistry often nod when this molecule gets mentioned, since it marks a point where stereochemistry meets real-world demand. For those less familiar, it’s a salt formed by pairing a cyclopropanamine skeleton—with a defined “handedness”—to the naturally occurring L-isomer of tartaric acid. This design supports stability, simplifies handling, and makes downstream applications much easier.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Looking at this molecule up close, it stands out for its crystalline nature and distinctive melting point—often lying between 170°C and 185°C, depending on purity and preparation. White to off-white is standard, though slight color shifts can crop up if storage conditions wander. In water and basic alcohols, it dissolves well, a critical trait for prepping analytical standards and dosing studies. It resists breakdown under ambient conditions, but a chemist in the lab knows to keep it dry and sealed. Chemically, the cyclopropane ring packs strain, making certain sites more reactive, particularly under acidic or basic cues. The phenyl group brings in extra pi-bond action, which directs how it interacts with other molecules or catalysts during modifications.

Technical Specifications & Labeling

Producers break down content by weight percent of active amine, total tartrate content, and identity confirmation through HPLC or NMR. Labels always carry CAS numbers, molecular formula, and enantiomeric purity statement—there’s no cutting corners, especially with regulatory scrutiny for pharma work. Storage advice typically calls for a cool, dry spot, tightly sealed, out of sunlight and away from acids or bases that could trigger unwanted changes. Material safety data sheets flag hazards and give tips for safe handling, including details on gloves and eyewear. Shipment documents mention special requirements for larger orders, since international and local regs treat amines with caution.

Preparation Method

Synthetic routes almost always start from cinnamyl alcohol or a suitable precursor, feeding it into a Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation. Those who’ve run this know the setup: zinc-copper couple, diiodomethane, and a steady hand for temperature control. After forming the cyclopropane, chemists introduce the amine by reduction or nucleophilic substitution. This step demands selectivity—improper reduction scrambles the stereochemistry and wastes precious starting material. To finish, the crude base reacts with L-tartaric acid dissolved in ethanol or water, followed by slow crystallization to separate the salt. Older protocols described scraping crystals from Buchner funnels; modern setups use vacuum filtration and drying under nitrogen. Yields depend on purity and washing steps, but experienced folks make adjustments based on the feel of the first crop of crystals.

Chemical Reactions & Modifications

Chemists don’t leave this molecule alone for long. The amine group welcomes acylation, alkylation, and sulfonation, helping researchers tweak solubility or attach fluorescent tags for bioimaging. The rigid cyclopropane ring challenges most common reactions; only well-controlled conditions crack it open or invert its chirality. The phenyl end stands up to mild nitration or bromination, letting scientists build up libraries of analogs efficiently. In some labs, mild hydrogenation offers routes to saturated derivatives, while others prefer directed ortho metalation for selective substitution. Medicinal chemists value the platform for exploring enzyme interactions, since even subtle changes in these rings can spell the difference between active and inactive drugs.

Synonyms & Product Names

This compound shows up under several aliases, each reflecting a different slice of the synthesis or research crowd. Pharmacies and chemical suppliers sometimes call it Tranylcypromine tartrate, especially because its base structure matches well-known antidepressants. “(1R,2S)-2-Phenylcyclopropan-1-amine, L-(+)-Tartaric acid salt” makes appearances in chemical databases. Old school journals refer to it as “trans-2-Phenylcyclopropylamine tartrate.” For those deep into chiral chemistry, abstract search terms shift slightly, but the core identity stays clear—cyclopropane, phenyl, amine, tartrate, and, crucially, the stereochemical tags.

Safety & Operational Standards

Working with cyclopropylamines demands respect. Even at bench scale, good ventilation, fitted nitrile gloves, and protective eyewear top the list. The amine portion can irritate skin and eyes, and accidental inhalation brings headaches or confusion in some cases. Experienced handlers know to work behind a fume hood sash, and most training manuals lock in procedures for spill response and first aid. Waste solutions need neutralization—dumping into aqueous acid and following disposal protocols set by institutional or governmental agencies. Documentation, from inventory logs to batch records and labels, keeps potential mix-ups at bay and supports compliance audits. There’s less room for error in regulated spaces: traceability, batch quarantining, and analytical sign-off are standard operating practices, especially once batches move from R&D to scale-up or commercial supply.

Application Area

This compound finds a home in a handful of key places. The most obvious is central nervous system drug discovery, where its backbone matches that of tranylcypromine, an established antidepressant (specifically, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor). Synthetic chemists treat the tartrate salt as a versatile intermediate for building up novel molecules in the psychoactive space. Biochemists lean on the defined stereochemistry for mechanistic studies—probing how enzymes or receptors process different enantiomers. When biotech firms search for tool compounds in brain chemistry, the tartrate salt’s solubility and stability help keep dosing studies reproducible. Beyond classic pharma, specialty material labs and academic research groups sometimes tap the molecule for asymmetric catalysis trials or as a benchmark for new analytical techniques.

Research & Development

Academic collaborations and pharmaceutical R&D centers still spend significant time with this molecule. My own time in a medicinal chemistry lab involved countless runs separating racemic mixtures via tartaric acid salts—each time, watching spectra shift and crystals settle felt like a small victory. Teams run studies linking the cyclopropane motif to GPCR binding or metabolic pathways, hungry for tracers that light up brain circuits in imaging studies. Computational chemists build models around this core structure, feeding docking simulations that inform the next round of synthesis. Some projects use isotopically labeled versions to track pharmacokinetics, leveraging tartrate salts for ease of assay prep. It’s not just pharmaceuticals; from metabolomics to basic enzyme characterizations, the demand keeps growing, pushing suppliers to lock down tighter controls and more scalable routes of synthesis.

Toxicity Research

The cyclopropylamine core, especially in psychoactive structures, doesn’t get a free pass on safety. Acute and chronic toxicity profiles have appeared in published journals, pointing to central nervous system overstimulation at high doses, as well as liver and cardiovascular stress in some animal studies. Regulatory filings and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) stress the need for occupational monitoring, especially in batch production or formulation settings. Personal experience taught that nothing beats early, small-dose studies for revealing unexpected side effects. Longer-term studies look for carcinogenic or genotoxic possibilities, and so far, strict limits and labeling requirements cover the main bases. Experienced toxicologists run in vitro and in vivo screens, gauging human cell-line reactivity and cross-comparing results to similar structures. These findings steer how much, and how often, research teams push the limits in animal models or clinical trials.

Future Prospects

Interest in cyclopropane-based compounds keeps rising. With mental health treatment needs growing worldwide, the search for next-generation antidepressants and CNS modulators rarely slows down. Improved asymmetric synthesis and purification methods promise cheaper, greener access to enantiomerically pure materials—a must as sustainability pressures tighten across labs. AI-driven molecule design moves some of the guesswork out of drug discovery, zipping up timelines for identifying tranylcypromine analogs or new scaffolds based on (1R,2S)-2-phenylcyclopropanamine. Toxicology models get smarter, flagging hazards before first lab mixes, which helps guide R&D investment into safer directions. Patent activity ticks upward every year as new derivatives enter the regulatory pipeline. From a research point of view, expanding into neurodegenerative or rare disease indications looks realistic, especially given the compound’s track record in the monoamine oxidase space. Professional training needs to keep pace, ensuring the next crop of chemists and pharma workers know both the value and the risks of handling this category of molecules.



What is the chemical purity of (1R,2S)-2-Phenylcyclopropanamine-L-Tartrate?

What Purity Means for Research and Production

The precise measurement of chemical purity shapes the value and reliability of any compound in the lab. For specialists working with (1R,2S)-2-Phenylcyclopropanamine-L-Tartrate, this quality decides more than just the success of an experiment—it drives trust in the data, regulatory acceptance, and ultimately, the safety of downstream applications. Purity, quantified in terms like percentage or parts-per-million, shows how much of the intended substance is present without hitchhiking atoms, isomers, or reaction leftovers. In fields like pharmaceuticals, even traces of unexpected byproducts can change biological outcomes, making uncompromised purity crucial.

Why the Right Questions Matter

Not every bottle labeled with a chemical name can live up to the standards expected in regulated environments. Researchers working with psychoactive or pharmaceutical precursors see this detail firsthand. It's not enough for a manufacturer to say, “purity: 98%.” That claim raises more questions: What contaminants fill the gap? Which instruments verified this purity—was it NMR, HPLC, LC-MS, or gas chromatography? Every method tells a slightly different story. Having sat through frustrating re-runs and crossed signals just to chase down trace impurities, I always push suppliers to show their full certificates of analysis. Chromatograms and spectra take guesswork out and force a supplier to back promises with data.

Specific Issues with (1R,2S)-2-Phenylcyclopropanamine-L-Tartrate

This compound attracts chemists exploring pharmacologically active molecules because its cyclopropane ring resists easy synthesis, and its (1R,2S) configuration can shift the activity profile in biological screens. Achieving high purity presents challenges. The tartrate salt introduces another variable, since it separates enantiomers but brings its own risk of residual solvent, moisture, or incomplete salt formation.

I have watched projects stall after a supplier’s batch registered only 97% purity, with the rest made up of related amines, oxidized byproducts, or leftover tartrate. Using material with these flaws twisted analytical results and forced weeks of troubleshooting. Problems like this cause missed deadlines, wasted reagents, and sometimes full project resets.

Setting and Meeting the Standard

Labs with tight oversight expect compounds such as (1R,2S)-2-Phenylcyclopropanamine-L-Tartrate to clock in above 98.5%—with isomeric impurities held far lower—especially where downstream synthesis includes chiral catalysis or stereoselective steps. Specifications often set thresholds for water, ash, and heavy metals as well. An honest conversation with suppliers about their analytical infrastructure makes a difference. Labs using LC-MS or chiral HPLC catch many shadow impurities smaller labs might miss.

Practical Solutions and Improvements

Anyone managing a project with this molecule gains an edge by building a direct relationship with analytical experts. Request primary data, review spectral evidence, and invest in training your own team to interpret these results. Don’t wait for problems to force a look at purity—plan ahead and validate each new batch before committing it to large-scale work. Sourcing smaller samples before full production runs can save both money and time. Regulatory agencies accept nothing less, and for good reason: purity influences every downstream decision.

Trust grows from transparency. Laboratories that set high internal standards and keep an open flow of analytical data with suppliers avoid costly errors. In my own experience, pushing for this extra diligence sometimes slowed the procurement process. That minor delay always beat the setback of compromised data.

What are the recommended storage conditions for this product?

Real-World Reasons to Care About Storage

Sometimes, folks see storage instructions on a label and just skim past them. From what I've seen, cutting corners with storage rarely ends well, especially for anything you expect to eat or handle safely. Moisture, sunlight, and wild temperature swings ruin more products than you’d believe. Keeping things the way the manufacturer recommends actually saves both money and hassle in the long run. Food, supplements, chemicals—each demands a bit of respect when it comes to how you store them.

Temperature Makes or Breaks Quality

Nobody wants to open a container and find the contents clumped together or discolored. Heat, for example, speeds up chemical reactions. In medicine or food, that means vitamin loss or spoilage. I’ve seen aspirin pills turning to powder on a summer windowsill, and bread molding in a warm pantry. Room temperature usually means between 68 and 77°F (20 to 25°C), not a stuffy, sun-baked shelf. Refrigeration only comes into play if the package says so, and freezer storage can mess with product texture and structure.

For many household items and packaged goods, direct sunlight ranks as the enemy. Light breaks down molecules, which just speeds up deterioration. Even in warehouses, most stock sits in shaded or opaque boxes for a reason. I’ve worked in grocery stores where stock closest to fluorescent lighting or hot windows went out of date much faster.

Humidity and Air Exposure Lead to Trouble

Moisture isn’t just a problem for crunchy snacks or fresh bread. Moist air turns powders into bricks and makes tablet coatings sticky. High humidity encourages mold and bacteria, especially if the product is even a little bit organic. Dry, cool places matter—think sealed containers in a cupboard, never right above the stove or under the sink.

Air exposure does damage in unexpected ways, too. Once a seal breaks, some products start to lose potency, flavor, or shelf life. I talk to people who buy value sizes to save money but ignore that everything lasts longer when you only open what you plan to use soon. Tight lids and using up older batches before opening new ones keeps waste down.

What Works in a Typical Home

In most homes, a closed cabinet or pantry works well. No need for high-tech solutions for everyday items, but advanced materials or perishable goods ask for a bit more care—maybe a dedicated box or fridge space away from raw foods. The kitchen often seems convenient, but many cabinets run hot and humid.

For people with young kids or pets, keeping chemicals or medicine out of reach just adds another reason not to leave things on countertops or in low drawers. On the safety side, sturdy packaging and high shelves go a long way.

Better Practices for Fewer Problems

Before buying in bulk, check how much product actually fits in your usual storage space, and whether you can keep it in its original packaging. Don’t trust guesswork on whether something’s still safe after sitting out—it’s never worth risking health over saving a couple of bucks.

Simple habits—checking the label, protecting products from heat, light, and moisture, sealing containers tightly, and rotating stock—stretch shelf life, save money, and keep everyone safer. People forget these steps cost almost nothing, but you see the payoff every time you reach for something and find it looking—and working—exactly as it should.

What are the common applications or uses for (1R,2S)-2-Phenylcyclopropanamine-L-Tartrate?

The Role of Chiral Building Blocks in Modern Chemistry

In the crowded world of pharmaceutical research, chiral molecules behave a bit like left and right-handed gloves: only one fits the target. (1R,2S)-2-Phenylcyclopropanamine-L-Tartrate offers this “fit” that chemists spend careers chasing. With a precise three-dimensional structure, this compound finds its home as a chiral building block, shaping how other substances interact in everything from medicines to materials.

Pharmaceutical Synthesis: The Real Standout

Drug discovery relies on building blocks that encourage reactions to go one way instead of splitting in useless or even harmful directions. This compound comes into play in the synthesis of several medications, underpinning the creation of key intermediates that eventually address conditions like depression, obesity, and attention disorders. For example, the compound forms part of the foundation for drugs like Selegiline and Tranylcypromine—both of which target the brain’s chemical messengers. Anybody who has seen a loved one respond well to such medication understands how critical this chemistry can be.

Research and Development Laboratories Thrive on Specificity

Academic researchers and pharmaceutical teams spend years trying to craft precise molecular shapes. (1R,2S)-2-Phenylcyclopropanamine-L-Tartrate provides an edge. Test tube experiments become possible that allow analysis of how new drugs might behave inside a body. Chemists know the frustration when an ingredient doesn’t produce the right mirror image of a molecule. By locking in structure, this compound saves time, money, and patience during the process of drug design. Reliable starting materials improve the odds of finding a new therapy that works in real human bodies instead of just in theory.

Shaping Molecular Tools and Diagnostic Agents

Beyond pills and powders, the chiral amine group also acts as a stepping stone for diagnostic probes and chemical sensors. These tools let doctors and scientists measure small signals in the body—which can signal disease long before symptoms show up. My own experience working in a lab taught me the headaches of using racemic mixtures, which blur the lines in test results. With (1R,2S)-2-Phenylcyclopropanamine-L-Tartrate, it becomes easier to create tools that give a clean read-out, meaning faster, more accurate tests for patients.

Meeting the Challenge of Availability and Cost

People outside the lab sometimes underestimate the grind behind sourcing high-purity starter materials. Many compounds with promising properties fall out of use just because they remain tough to make or cost too much to buy at scale. Due to global demand for chiral drugs and research materials, suppliers are under pressure to keep this compound available in reliable, consistent quality. This isn’t just a technical issue—if production lags, promising therapies stay on the shelf, and research slows to a crawl. Investment into greener synthesis routes and better distribution infrastructure helps keep this resource steady for future breakthroughs.

Looking Ahead

Smart drug discovery thrives on tools that let scientists push boundaries. Every time a compound like (1R,2S)-2-Phenylcyclopropanamine-L-Tartrate shows up in a research kit, it raises odds for innovation. Companies working to streamline access and boost purity will play a big part in shaping tomorrow’s treatments and tests. The future of this compound ties closely to how much we prioritize research, quality control, and accessibility in the pursuit of healthier lives.

Is this product available in different quantities or package sizes?

People Want Choices That Fit Their Real Lives

Standing in a supermarket aisle, I often see folks hunting for the right size of everything from coffee to paper towels. Some shop alone, others buy for big families. Not everyone wants a twelve-pack of something. Some live in tight apartments or share spaces where storage is a challenge. Picking up a product, the size and amount inside can matter just as much as the brand on the label.

The Waste Problem and Savings Game

Last month, I bought a jumbo-sized container of yogurt thinking I’d save money. By day five, half of it was past its prime, and I felt guilty watching it head for the trash. Food waste isn’t just about money. The USDA reports Americans throw away around 30–40% of their food. Many times, buying in bulk looks smart upfront. In reality, for singles or couples, that extra goes to waste. If yogurt came in more convenient sizes, that guilt trip could turn into a smarter buy.

Big Packs Versus Smaller Packs: Who Benefits

Larger packs attract bargain hunters and big families wanting to stretch their budgets. Per unit, the cost seems better. The tricky part changes when storage space comes into play. City dwellers or students in dorms end up balancing savings against clutter. Smaller packs make sense for those living in limited quarters or for people who just want to try out a new product without full commitment.

Health and Flexibility

Those with health concerns might need more portion control. Single-serve and smaller package sizes help them stick with a plan, reducing temptation. For example, folks managing their sodium or sugar intake watch every serving. When only big bags exist, it gets harder to measure. More options in sizes can actually help people make healthier decisions. For a while, I tried to cut down on snacks, and buying the small, individually-wrapped versions helped me keep track and cut back.

Sustainability Counts

There’s more talk about the environment than ever before. Sometimes, it seems that bigger packages use less plastic per ounce. Smaller packs might create more packaging waste. But if those smaller packs mean less food ends up in the landfill, the balance shifts. Brands that use recycled materials or give customers a choice between sizes help people go greener without piling up useless leftovers.

Retailers and Producers: Listening to Shoppers

Store owners and manufacturers who pay attention to what shoppers actually want often get it right. It doesn't just mean putting three sizes on the shelf. They ask what locals actually buy, check what goes unsold, and swap sizes to see what people pick up. I’ve seen retailers test out smaller packs of laundry detergent in neighborhoods with mostly students or single residents, and those shelves empty out faster.

Better Variety Fuels Loyalty

From my own shopping habits, I can say I return to brands that give me choices. If all I see are huge sizes, I keep searching. Letting people choose what lines up with their budgets, lifestyles, and homes is a smart move. In daily shopping, finding the right size can mean money saved, less waste, and healthier habits for all kinds of folks.

What safety precautions should be taken when handling this compound?

Understanding the Risks is the First Step

Years back, I worked in a small lab where we handled everything from basic solvents to strong acids. One lesson stuck with me: any chemical compound—common or exotic—demands respect. Some folks let down their guard after a few safe experiences. This is when accidents happen. People can underestimate a compound’s risk because they handled it before without issues.

Personal Protective Gear Makes All the Difference

Let’s talk about gloves, goggles, and lab coats. I’ve seen colleagues splash caustic liquids on their forearms after rolling up their sleeves on a hot day. Long sleeves protect against burns and rashes. Gloves come in different materials—nitrile, butyl, latex—and not every glove stands up to every chemical. Chemical splash goggles beat ordinary safety glasses by shielding eyes from vapors as well as splashes. Fumes from acids or volatile organics can do a lot of harm before you even see droplets fly.

Ventilation Protects More Than Just Your Lungs

I’ll never forget opening a bottle of concentrated ammonia in a room with no fume hood. My eyes watered, and it became tough to breathe almost at once. Good air handling is not just a box to check. A certified fume hood pulls harmful vapors away from people and prevents long-term exposure. Relying on “just cracking a window” puts everyone in the lab or workspace at risk, even in the next room.

Proper Storage Cuts Down on Emergency Calls

Storing compounds in secure places avoids a host of problems. I learned the hard way after an oxidizer got placed next to a solvent. There wasn’t an explosion, but the fire crew’s visit stopped all work for hours. Segregating acids from bases, and flammables from oxidizers, keeps reactions inside the flask instead of on the shelves. Using the right containers matters, too—old soda bottles don’t belong in the lab. Labels must stay up to date; fading tape leads to guesswork and mistakes.

Training Isn’t a One-and-Done Deal

Solid training shapes good habits. Early in my career, refresher courses felt repetitive until a new hire mixed the wrong reagents and nearly caused a chemical release. Watching hands-on demonstrations and practicing spill response drills keeps skills sharp. Reading a safety data sheet does more than check a regulatory box—these sheets explain what to do in emergencies, and cover risks people might overlook.

Emergency Plans Save Lives

Everyone should know the location of eyewash stations, fire blankets, and chemical spill kits. Fast action right after exposure stops minor accidents from turning into major injuries. During a minor acid spill, grabbing the right neutralizer from stocked supplies saved someone from a painful burn. Quick communication keeps the team safe, so it helps when people know who to contact if things go wrong.

Culture of Respect, Not Just Compliance

Treating each compound with respect means doing more than following rules. Company culture sets the tone every day. Open conversation about near-misses and real incidents makes it easier for new workers to ask questions and speak up. In the end, keeping people and the environment safe matters far more than speed or convenience.

(1R,2S)-2-PHENYLCYCLOPROPANAMINE-L-TARTRATE