Levarterenol Bitartrate: An In-Depth Look at Its Physical and Chemical Properties

What is Levarterenol Bitartrate?

Levarterenol bitartrate stands out as a crucial compound in the pharmaceutical sector, often developed and handled by experienced chemists and researchers dedicated to critical care medicine. Recognized as the bitartrate salt of levarterenol, or norepinephrine, this substance appears in pure chemical form as an off-white or white crystalline solid, reflecting the high purity standards required for both research and clinical applications. Many in hospital laboratory settings recognize its importance because it serves as a vital pressor agent—something that helps raise or maintain blood pressure in patients encountering life-threatening drops in blood pressure.

Structural and Molecular Characteristics

On the molecular level, levarterenol bitartrate features a structure built from a norepinephrine core paired with bitartrate counterions. Its molecular formula, C8H11NO3·C4H6O6, demonstrates the fusion of these two organic fragments. Chemists routinely measure its density, with the compound presenting values around 1.35 g/cm³ in solid form. In research labs, you’ll commonly encounter it as a fine powder or flakes—forms that dissolve efficiently in water and saline solutions, reflecting its strong ionic character. This water solubility is crucial. Physicians and nurses working in emergency wards depend on rapid and reliable drug reconstitution, and the easy dissolution speeds up preparation during high-pressure environments.

Physical Properties and Description

Levarterenol bitartrate, under controlled storage, usually appears as a solid crystalline powder—sometimes as small pearls or irregular sheets, depending on processing and storage conditions. Eye-catching only to trained chemists, these crystals reflect light in unique patterns under polarized light microscopes, a detail that often indicates purity and crystalline order. The solid powder’s melting point ranges from 243 to 250°C, highlighting its thermal stability, which matters when storing large batches in chemical warehouses or pharmacy storerooms. As someone who has studied various pharmaceutical raw materials in academic research labs, I have noticed that pharmaceuticals with such stability often withstand challenging transportation circumstances, supporting broader distribution even in places with less controlled environments.

Chemical Specifications and Reactivity

In the world of reagents and safe chemical handling, Levarterenol bitartrate scores high for its clear identity and predictable behavior. It has a CAS number of 59-63-2 and falls under the HS Code 2922199090. That latter detail becomes valuable for customs officers, importers, and manufacturers who must declare raw materials for international trade and regulatory reviews. The chemical energy held in its structure comes primarily from the catecholamine core, making it a strong reducing agent and participant in redox biology within the human body. Scientists note its readiness to oxidize, requiring careful storage in airtight containers, away from light and moisture—much the same approach used for other catecholamines in laboratory and hospital settings.

Hazard, Safety, and Environmental Concerns

Safety officers and handlers know that despite its medical benefits, improper handling of Levarterenol bitartrate could present risks. Direct contact with the powder may cause irritation to the skin, eyes, or respiratory tract. While typically not classified as acutely hazardous in the volumes used for medical compounding, spills need prompt attention—lab personnel use gloves, eye protection, and fume hoods, minimizing the potential for dermal or inhalation exposure. Waste solutions and unused solid forms require careful disposal according to chemical safety standards: they should never get flushed down sinks or placed in general waste bins, since they might harm aquatic ecosystems if released untreated. In academic environments, I have experienced how strict adherence to Material Safety Data Sheets not only protects staff but also ensures that local communities avoid unnecessary exposure to pharmaceutical runoff.

Uses as a Raw Material and in Solution

Working as a foundational material, Levarterenol bitartrate supplies the precursor for several injectable and oral formulations found across hospital pharmacies. Its solubility in water and saline means pharmacists can prepare concentrated solutions, ensuring rapid onset in emergency medical scenarios. Formulators value how this compound maintains stability in solution, with pH control and refrigeration further extending shelf life for high-urgency medical kits. The dual function as both a finished product and a raw material highlights the flexibility required in pharmaceutical manufacturing—many factory technicians depend on these characteristics to simplify batch production and quality control sampling.

Why Reliable Specifications Matter

From research benches to emergency rooms, clear and reliable specifications mean fewer mistakes, less confusion, and better patient outcomes. Chemical suppliers, pharmacists, and regulatory agents rely on unambiguous molecular data, density measurements, and descriptions of physical appearance to prevent mix-ups. Accurate records of form and function support better inventory planning, more effective quality audits, and a faster response to recalls or regulatory queries. My own experience in interdisciplinary research taught me that precision not only streamlines operations but fosters trust across the supply chain—patients, practitioners, and scientists all benefit when every detail is clear, confirmed, and accessible.