(S)-β-amino-1H-imidazole-4-propanol dihydrochloride serves as a specialized intermediate in organic synthesis, especially in the pharmaceutical field. The compound features an imidazole core, a structure well-regarded among medicinal chemists for its versatile bioactivity and presence in many bioactive molecules. Its chemical identity combines the chirality of the (S)-β-amino group, linked through a propanol chain to the five-membered imidazole ring, and stabilized by two hydrochloride counter-ions. The chiral center unlocks an array of applications where enantioselectivity shapes pharmacological properties. Chemists rely on the salt-form to increase the compound's handling, improve its stability, and enhance its solubility in water for downstream processing. Laboratories and manufacturing sites recognize this material as both a valuable building block and a research reagent.
Imidazole rings offer a fascinating platform for chemical modification, and in this compound, the four-position carries a propanol chain, finished by an (S)-configured amino group. Two hydrochloride units coordinate with the nitrogen atoms, reflecting the compound’s dihydrochloride state, which guarantees higher solubility in polar mixtures and aqueous systems. The empirical formula, C6H13N3O·2HCl, points to a molecular framework loaded with hydrogen bonding sites, important for both synthetic manipulation and potential biological interaction. The structure includes three nitrogen atoms, two found in the aromatic imidazole ring, one belonging to the amino group on the side chain. This setup introduces nucleophilic and basic character, particularly under neutral or slightly acidic conditions. The configuration around the chiral center defines its designation as the (S)-enantiomer, a key factor influencing biochemical reaction profiles or drug development processes.
Most batches of (S)-β-amino-1H-imidazole-4-propanol dihydrochloride appear as a solid at standard temperature and pressure. Suppliers offer it as fine powder or colorless crystalline solid, occasionally as off-white flakes depending on purity and residual solvent. The powders typically feature a density near 1.5 g/cm³. In a research environment, the solid handles well and dissolves easily in water, forming clear, slightly acidic solutions. The compound resists melting until it passes 240°C, sometimes decomposing before a clean melt—a trait often seen in similar heterocyclic dihydrochloride salts. Chemists find its stable solid-state makes it easy to weigh, store, and ship, compared to more hydroscopic or volatile intermediates. Handling the powder, users notice a faint, amine-like odor typical of aminated imidazoles, but it generally produces low vapor risk and passes as stable under ordinary storage conditions.
This material serves as a staple in medicinal chemistry for constructing imidazole-based drugs. Its role stretches into API synthesis, agrochemical laboratories, and sometimes high-performance materials research. Starting from this molecule, chemists introduce additional functional groups or manipulate the propanol and amino side chains to achieve the desired product profile. In peptide chemistry, the chiral β-amino alcohol format provides a platform for preparing key fragments or as a synthon in asymmetric catalysis. Quality control labs find its high purity and clear crystalline form ideal for method development. Its water-loving nature reduces the challenge of blending in aqueous buffers or media, letting experimenters streamline process chemistry. Access to both free amino and hydroxyl sites means the molecule pivots easily into downstream modifications, unlike more protected or sterically blocked intermediates.
For import, export, and regulatory reporting, this chemical aligns with the Harmonized System Code for organic chemical salts, usually falling under 292529, which covers imidazole and its derivatives—a necessary reference point for customs regulators, procurement teams, and compliance managers. Documentation for this material generally includes an assay (purity, commonly exceeding 98%), appearance, melting point range, moisture content by Karl Fischer titration, optical rotation to confirm (S)-configuration, and elemental analysis to verify proper salt formation. Laboratories cross-reference batch number and technical data sheet before use, ensuring consistency throughout scale-up and downstream application in a regulated environment.
No one can afford to overlook health and safety, especially not with fine chemicals. (S)-β-amino-1H-imidazole-4-propanol dihydrochloride, thanks to its two hydrochloride groups and the presence of an amino moiety, demands careful handling to avoid irritation. Users should wear standard laboratory PPE—gloves, goggles, and lab coats—and avoid inhalation or prolonged skin contact, since mild to moderate gastrointestinal or respiratory irritation may occur. Safety data sheets note low flammability and limited acute toxicity, classifying the compound neither as acutely hazardous nor especially dangerous in lab quantities. Still, keeping spills off skin, out of eyes, and away from open wounds sits at the front of sensible practice. Waste management teams prefer neutralization and plenty of rinsing before disposal or incineration, with a close eye on any splashes due to the low but nonzero corrosive potential from chloride ions.
Large-scale operations look for consistent texture, so suppliers favor fine powder or crystalline solid to weigh and dilute. No one wants clumps or undissolved chunks slowing down the batch. In smaller runs, the same product may arrive as loose dust, crystalline shards, or uniform microcrystalline pearls—never as a liquid, oil, or pre-made solution, since the material stays dry and controllable at room temperature. Manufacturing teams care about the way solid blends flow through hoppers or stirrers, so a free-running crystalline or powder texture fits best. Crystals display sharp edges, sometimes forming long, clear rods after careful slow precipitation, but commercial batches tend to be milled or sieved for ease.
Researchers rely on this substance’s clean structure to test new catalysts, explore receptor-ligand models, and cook up prodrug or peptide designs. Purity links directly to scientific reproducibility, and this compound delivers, letting high-stakes projects move with confidence past the initial building-block step. The (S)-chirality streamlines creation of single-enantiomer pharmaceuticals or controls stereochemistry in multi-step processes. Quality assurance looks for well-documented analytical data and tight physical controls, supporting regulatory submissions in drug and biotech pipelines. Industrial chemists prize well-defined intermediates for scaling up, so a solid supply chain for this compound lays groundwork for both innovation and practical synthesis across labs worldwide.