S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol: Insights and Developments

Historical Development

S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol entered the spotlight during the late twentieth century, at a time when interest in chiral compounds surged in pharmaceutical research. Scientists noticed that stereochemistry dramatically affected a molecule’s biological activity. As atenolol and other beta-blockers, which share structural features with this compound, became household names for treating hypertension and heart disease, chemists started to focus on enantiomerically pure building blocks. The specific S-(-) enantiomer offered new pathways, allowing researchers to explore beta-adrenergic blocking studies with greater precision. Research journals from the 1980s and 1990s highlight a growing appreciation—and demand—for this compound due to its role in developing single-enantiomer pharmaceuticals and its value in exploring the subtleties of drug-receptor interactions.

Product Overview

S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol belongs to the beta-amino alcohols family, a group prized both for pharmaceutical use and as chemical intermediates. It combines a tert-butylamino group with a chiral propanediol backbone. The S-(-) form particularly attracts attention due to its significance in synthesizing selective drugs, notably beta-blockers and other medicinal agents requiring chirality for safety and function. This molecule’s unique structure supports critical selectivity in biological activity, showing the impact of stereochemistry not just on drug action, but also on the efficiency of chemical syntheses.

Physical & Chemical Properties

The S-(-)-enantiomer appears as a white to almost white crystalline solid, often giving off a faint amine-like odor. Its melting point usually falls between 70 °C and 76 °C, and it dissolves readily in polar solvents like water, methanol, and ethanol, reflecting its hydrophilic diol moiety. The compound shows optical rotation between -19° and -25° (c=1, H2O), confirming its enantiomeric form. Its chemical formula is C7H17NO2, and it exhibits a molar mass of 147.22 g/mol. The compound responds to both acid and base, maintaining stability under common laboratory conditions. Exposure to high temperatures or oxidizers can degrade its structure, and its amine group can become protonated under acidic conditions, altering solubility.

Technical Specifications & Labeling

Bottles or drums of S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol bear labels specifying isomeric purity, typically >98% for research or pharmaceutical use. Suppliers list moisture content under 0.5%, and residual solvents, if present, fall within accepted limits for pharmaceutical manufacturing. Labels often reference the product’s CAS number and indicate storage conditions in a cool, dry place, away from light and incompatibles like strong acids or oxidizers. Certifications such as ISO 9001 or cGMP lend confidence to end users, demonstrating consistent quality controls.

Preparation Method

Producing the S-(-) enantiomer involves enantioselective synthesis, starting with achiral or racemic precursors. Asymmetric catalytic reduction of the corresponding ketone with a chiral borane complex, or an enzymatic route using transaminases, enables the introduction of, and control over, the stereocenter. Following this, the tert-butyl group attaches through amination, often using tert-butylamine and a protected glycidol under controlled conditions. Subsequent extraction and purification steps sharpen the enantiomeric purity. Labs invest in routine chiral chromatography and optical rotation measurements to confirm each batch’s stereochemical integrity, given that the wrong stereoisomer can reduce or even reverse pharmacological activity.

Chemical Reactions & Modifications

This amino alcohol acts as a versatile intermediate. The primary and secondary alcohol functions undergo esterification or etherification, introducing protective groups or linking to other pharmacophores. Oxidation yields the corresponding amino ketone, while acylation of the amino group often creates new derivatives in drug discovery. It accepts quaternization to form water-soluble salts, expanding its utility in diverse pharmaceutical formulations. In organic synthesis, the molecule lends itself to Michael additions, reductive aminations, and chiral ligand formation, powering asymmetric synthesis for subsequent complex molecules.

Synonyms & Product Names

S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol goes by several aliases, reflecting its multifaceted role. Common synonyms include (S)-1-(tert-butylamino)-2-propanol, S-tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol, and S-atenololol intermediate. Research catalogs often list it under its CAS number 41998-01-8. While each supplier might brand it differently for commercial use, awareness of these synonyms improves purchasing efficiency and data retrieval for ongoing projects.

Safety & Operational Standards

Handling this compound calls for basic chemical hygiene. Direct contact can irritate skin and mucosal membranes, so gloves, goggles, and lab coats form the first line of defense. Work takes place in a ventilated fume hood due to its amine group’s volatility and sensitivity. Ingestion and inhalation risks require clear labeling and protocols; all spills get cleaned promptly using absorbent materials, and containers stay tightly sealed to avoid moisture uptake. Organizations emphasize employee training and up-to-date safety data sheets, ensuring that even as research pushes new boundaries, staff remain protected from unforeseen hazards.

Application Area

Most applications reside in pharmaceutical labs and manufacturing, where S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol takes on the role of a critical intermediate. It’s pivotal in creating selective beta-blockers, as the starting chiral motif ensures the right enantiomer hits the market. Beyond cardiology, chemists integrate this compound into the synthesis of drugs that manage arrhythmias, anxiety, and certain metabolic syndromes. The fine chemical industry looks to its chiral center to fashion new catalysts for asymmetric reactions. Scientists also use it as a resolving agent, separating racemic mixtures in research and development projects that demand the right stereochemistry.

Research & Development

In both industry and academic labs, S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol routinely helps research teams explore new pathways to optimized beta-adrenergic antagonists and enzyme inhibitors. During my own collaborations with medicinal chemists, every synthesis route hinged on finding reliable sources for high-enantiomeric-purity starting materials like this. Each structure–activity relationship study demanded a pure enantiomer, making it crucial for modern drug development. In recent years, automated flow chemistry and machine learning approaches combined to refine its synthesis and evaluate analogues, speeding up timelines between concept and candidate selection.

Toxicity Research

Toxicologists keep this compound under scrutiny due to its amino alcohol structure, which sometimes correlates with neurotoxicity in unrelated classes. Acute oral toxicity falls into a mild-to-moderate category based on rodent models. Chronic exposure studies suggest the compound clears rapidly through renal pathways, but large doses over time may disrupt normal amine metabolism. Regulatory guidelines recommend it not be released into the environment in large amounts, as its persistence could affect aquatic organisms. Even so, in strictly regulated lab settings, safe practices and environmental monitoring keep risks low.

Future Prospects

With precision medicine taking hold and demand for single-enantiomer pharmaceuticals rising, S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol’s relevance shows strong growth potential. Investments into greener synthesis and catalytic processes can reduce waste and improve yields. Researchers continue exploring bio-based routes using engineered enzymes to provide both sustainability and stereocontrol. Drug discovery teams keep mining its structure for hints toward novel treatments targeting not just the cardiovascular, but also the nervous and immune systems. It’s clear that with advances in both process technology and therapeutic sciences, this compound will stay on the front lines of innovation, contributing to safer and more effective medical solutions.



What is the main use of S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol?

Where the Science Meets Real-World Impact

A name like S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol sounds intimidating. Truth is, behind the mouthful sits a compound with a real job in pharmaceuticals. Scientists use it because it plays a key role as an intermediate. This is the kind of compound that lets researchers build more complex molecules, especially ones that end up as life-saving drugs.

Making Beta-Blockers Possible

Anyone dealing with high blood pressure or certain heart problems may have heard of beta-blockers. Many of those familiar medications owe their existence to molecules like S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol. The structure of this compound fits just right with the chemical frameworks of several important drugs. That means companies turn to it when they need a trusted foundation for safe, reliable medicines.

I remember a close family member battling hypertension. Seeing the way his medication gave him back a sense of normalcy changed my view of chemistry. It’s easy to dismiss these chemical names as distant or irrelevant, but every dose starts with precise syntheses, and compounds like this one anchor that process.

Why Chirality Matters

One thing that’s easy to miss in this name is the “S-(-)” part. That signals the exact three-dimensional shape of the molecule. In medicine, this kind of detail makes a difference: two versions of a compound can behave completely differently in the body. Only the right one triggers the helpful effect. S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol brings that kind of confidence to researchers’ hands. It offers selectivity, letting them steer clear of side effects and surprises.

Safe Manufacturing and Trusted Research

No drug hits pharmacy shelves without years of checking for safety and effectiveness. The pharmaceutical world relies on intermediates that meet strict standards. S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol has a well-defined purity and an accessible synthesis, so companies can scale up without risking poor results. That’s critical: the supply chain depends on intermediates that perform as promised.

The hard truth is that a slip-up with a chiral intermediate can lead to disastrous outcomes. Public safety rests on a foundation of chemical quality control. In my own experience with the industry, I’ve seen how much investment goes into audits, careful supplier vetting, and batch testing. As much as corporations value margins, trust builds on consistency—which begins in the chemistry lab.

Looking Ahead: Reducing Waste, Increasing Access

Pharma researchers know they can’t keep using resources the same way forever. Green chemistry trends put pressure on the industry to find routes that cut down byproducts and hazards. Compounds like S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol get special attention here. If chemists can develop cleaner, more efficient routes to this key intermediate, production costs go down, and more patients gain access to the drugs they need.

Waste reduction isn’t just eco-friendly talk. It saves money, builds goodwill, and shortens the path between lab discovery and patient recovery. Echoes from the opioid crisis and drug shortages have taught companies that chemistry choices echo far beyond the beaker.

Better Lives Through Chemistry

S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol. If you know someone helped by beta-blockers or other heart medications, there’s a good chance this compound played a part. The future depends on researchers who see both sides: rigorous science, and the lives changed by a well-tuned molecule.

Is S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol safe to handle and use?

Understanding This Chemical and Why Safety Matters

Working in a lab with a complex chemical name like S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol rarely feels as dramatic as it sounds, but paying attention matters every single time. This compound’s technical name might conjure images of something exotic, but the real concern has always been with basic safety. The chemical itself shows up in research and pharma labs, especially when it features in synthesis projects and drug design. Its chirality makes it useful for creating specific molecular shapes, but its safety profile deserves close attention.

What Makes This Compound Special and What Risks Tag Along?

During years in the chemistry world, one thing stands out: the smartest scientists are also sticklers for safety. S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol hasn’t earned a top spot on the global “hazard alerts” list, but the usual rules for lab chemicals still apply. Manufacturers publish safety data sheets and point out its potential to irritate skin, eyes, and airways. Even mild irritants can turn into a bigger problem in a cramped, busy lab environment.

Gloves, splash goggles, and sometimes face shields line the benches where this compound sits. Ventilation keeps fumes from collecting—nobody wants quick headaches or burning eyes ruining their afternoon at the bench. Reports suggest it lacks severe acute toxicity, but that’s no ticket to get complacent. Even lower-risk chemicals can lead to surprises if left uncapped or spilled. Chronic exposure risks are rarely detailed in public literature, which means experienced chemists often play it safe and limit direct contact whenever possible.

Evidence and Precautions: Facts Over Guesswork

Studies focus on its usefulness rather than toxicity, but that doesn’t erase common sense. The best labs treat S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol like any other organic amine or diol—friendly enough in small amounts, but not something to splash around. Experience reminded me more than once that it’s easy to overlook the buildup of residue on benchtops or door handles. Good ventilation, sealed storage, and regular glove changes beat wishful thinking every time.

Many universities and companies deploy fume hoods for even small-scale handling of chemicals like this. Eye wash stations and safety showers remain within arm’s reach. Routine training reinforces the basics every year. Most injuries do not happen because of a single dangerous moment, but because habits slip. I learned from seeing otherwise careful coworkers deal with irritated skin after the thinnest drop went unnoticed; extra caution almost always prevents trouble.

Solutions: Bring Down the Risk

Keeping everything labeled and following strict protocols pays off in real peace of mind. Spills get reported instead of ignored, and every container gets an accurate label—even if the name barely fits on the sticker. Laboratories use disposable pipette tips, avoid mouth pipetting, and assign specific benches to minimize confusion. Waste goes in the right bin, stored securely for later disposal. Lab managers back up safe practices with concrete policies and resources, not just reminders.

Anyone working with S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol would do well to treat every step as significant, no matter how routine the task might feel. Respect for chemicals has never let me down, and asking questions—even about a chemical you’ve handled a hundred times—remains one of the best habits anyone can adopt.

What are the storage requirements for S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol?

Why Safe Storage Matters

Storing chemicals in a research lab can get stressful if folks ignore the basics. S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol, used often in pharmaceutical and organic synthesis, brings its own handling quirks. Probably everyone with bench experience knows stories about ruined experiments and safety reports caused by ignoring chemical requirements. Keeping S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol stable protects everyone who handles it, preserves its quality, and shields your data from unexpected blips.

Conditions That Keep It Stable

From my days running stockrooms, light and heat often mess up sensitive chemicals more than anything else. S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol stays happiest away from direct sunlight. I remember watching a batch yellow in a sunlit window — not pretty, nobody trusted the material after that. So, folks find a cool, dry spot, usually out of sight in a chemical cabinet labeled with the right hazard signs. Avoiding temperatures above room temperature reduces the risk of unwanted decomposition.

Humidity triggers odd clumping and sometimes subtle chemical changes. This chemical draws in water from the air — that's called hygroscopic behavior. Every tech knows not to leave the bottle open during weighing. Small mistakes can ruin the rest of the container. Sealing the lid tight and using desiccators or even those little silica packs works well. I’ve seen some labs invest in dry boxes for powders that need extra protection. S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol might not burst into flames like some organolithiums, but it stops working as designed if moisture creeps in.

Labeling, Segregation, and Security

Good labels go a long way. Missing or handwritten stickers create chaos, so printing out clear chemical names, hazard symbols, and best-before dates gives everyone confidence. Keeping this compound away from oxidizers or acids has helped our department dodge some problems. I once saw a misplaced stash lead to a costly clean-out because someone co-stored incompatible chemicals. Chemical inventory software takes guesswork out for larger institutions, reducing mix-ups and tracking usage.

While theft or misuse isn’t common with S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol, secure storage helps prevent loss or accidental exposure. Even if you trust your team, locking higher-value or restricted materials helps meet regulatory obligations. Over the years, most auditors focus on control: who can access what, and how records are maintained.

Personal Protection and Clean-Up

Chemical spills rarely happen if folks respect the product and keep benches organized. Still, nobody wants to scramble for goggles or gloves. Basic PPE — safety glasses, gloves, and lab coats — keeps accidental splashes from causing trouble. In case of a spill, it takes seconds to scoop up powders with a plastic spatula, double-bag them, and toss into a chemical waste stream. Having SDS sheets handy means less guessing about extra dangers.

Smart Storage for Consistent Results

Taking the time to store S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol right pays off. Stable chemicals lead to reproducible science. I’ve learned that teaching new lab members these storage rules helps everyone down the line — less waste, fewer safety scares, and higher quality work. Well-ventilated and climate-controlled rooms keep inventory from degrading, and regular checks help catch small problems before they balloon.

Better storage means reliable experiments and safer labs. It’s good science, plain and simple, rooted in the everyday habits that separate amateur from professional.

What is the purity and chemical formula of S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol?

The Importance of Purity in Specialty Chemicals

In my years working alongside pharmaceutical and chemical research teams, purity often decides whether a project will advance or get stuck in endless troubleshooting. S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol, a chiral compound, plays a crucial role as an intermediate in the synthesis of beta-blockers, among other medical compounds. Chemists and researchers need to keep a close eye on purity levels here because even low-level impurities can cause unexpected side effects during drug development or obscure analytical results.

Purity on the commercial market for this molecule routinely exceeds 98%. The higher the purity, the more reliable the compound is in both pharmaceutical applications and chemical synthesis. Impurities bring a risk of batch failures, regulatory complications, and unwanted reactions in later steps. Scientists relying on S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol usually push for material that passes rigorous quality assurance—HPLC, NMR, and sometimes chiral chromatography, all get deployed to spot contaminants.

Chemical Formula and Structure Details

The molecular formula for S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol is C7H17NO2. This formula points to seven carbon atoms, seventeen hydrogens, one nitrogen, and two oxygens. Breaking that down, you’re looking at a structure with a tert-butylamino group attached to a backbone of 1,2-propanediol. Its chiral center means only one enantiomer, the S-form, suits the requirements for certain drug syntheses. That stereochemistry impacts biological function—it ties straight into why this molecule gets used over similar analogs.

Lab experience reminds me that using the wrong enantiomer creates substances that are either less effective or produce totally different, sometimes harmful, effects. Regulatory agencies don’t just tolerate this attention to detail—they demand it. The structure—written out as (S)-2-(tert-butylamino)-1,2-propanediol—means anyone working with it needs confidence in not just the formula, but the configuration as well.

Testing, Quality, and the Real-World Impact

From a practical angle, vendors that supply labs will answer for purity in their Certificates of Analysis. Chromatograms and spectra must show minimal peaks for any other substances. In many labs, acceptance levels for related substances in S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol sit well below 1%. Each new supplier or batch gets tested because variability at scale can lead to poor yields or ruined experiments.

The issue doesn’t just affect large pharmaceutical companies. Smaller specialty chemical operations and even some academic labs run into setbacks if their source isn’t consistent. Purity concerns get bigger when moving from milligram to multi-gram and kilogram scales, so maintaining strict quality checks is a must.

Approaches to Ensuring Quality

Factories and suppliers deal with a complex web of purification steps, often including recrystallization, careful solvent selection, and constant in-process monitoring. Reliable labs commit to in-house testing rather than trusting vendor claims. An experienced chemist will confirm both the chemical formula and optical activity before moving on, especially where regulatory oversight could trigger audits or recalls.

Transparency also makes a real difference—full datasets, batch history, and open lines of communication between supplier and user put fewer projects at risk. The era of assuming all fine chemicals are the same ended long ago. In a world where missed details can turn into costly recalls, the industry has learned to keep a close watch on the basics: purity and structure.

Does S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol have any known side effects or hazards?

Unpacking the Safety Concerns

People don’t often hear about S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol outside of research labs or pharmaceutical manufacturing. This compound pops up mostly in the synthesis of beta-blockers or other specialty chemicals. Its long, chemical name tends to keep most folks at arm’s length, but when you’re working in a lab or looking through a material safety data sheet, learning about side effects goes from optional reading to mandatory homework.

Potential Side Effects and Hazards

Long chemical names might hide behind layers of technical jargon, but that doesn’t mean the risks should get lost in the shuffle. If you’re handling S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1,2-propanediol, the hazards turn real pretty fast. Reports focus mainly on its potential to irritate skin, eyes, and respiratory tracts. I’ve seen people touch compounds without gloves, thinking it’s just another routine day—twenty minutes later, red patches or stinging eyes remind them that this isn’t just soapy water.

Most literature flags this chemical as harmful if swallowed or inhaled. Acute symptoms tend to line up with irritation and discomfort—a burning in the throat, lightheadedness, watery eyes. Chronic exposure details still sit on the edges of current research. That’s not good enough for anyone working with this stuff week in, week out. I usually ask for more than just anecdotal stories around the coffee pot, so I dig through published toxicology data: animal studies hint at central nervous system effects, although the doses for severe reactions look pretty high compared to what would turn up in everyday lab work.

Why Vigilance Matters

Ignoring even “minor” hazards because they lack headline-grabbing drama puts real people at risk. Anyone who’s worked in research knows how easy it is to let your guard down, especially if regulators haven’t flagged a substance as a carcinogen or banned it outright. But relying on what official lists leave out can lead to bad habits.

Following the usual safety measures helps, but I’ve found that even well-trained researchers sometimes underestimate chemicals not surrounded by skull-and-crossbones warnings. A splash won’t dissolve your skin, but it can trigger an allergic rash or cause sneezing fits—enough to ruin your focus and possibly send someone to a clinic.

Actionable Solutions for Safer Labs

The take-home isn’t just "be careful." People need simple, practical solutions—latest gloves, lab goggles, exhaust hoods and emergency wash stations always available. Training doesn’t end after the first month on the job; regular refreshers keep folks alert. Labels and safety data sheets belong on every container, even if you’ve worked with it a hundred times before.

Lab managers who foster a culture where folks feel comfortable reporting splashes, spills, or accidental inhalation will catch problems before they turn into real injuries. Even more, visible checklists on lab doors and reminders about common symptoms can turn an abstract hazard into something everyone takes personally.

Every chemical—harmless-sounding or not—deserves the same respect. No shortcut substitutes for straightforward caution. If in doubt, reach for protection. Your skin, eyes, and lungs will thank you.

S-(-)-Tert-butylamino-1 2-propanediol