Chemistry grows from an old tradition of curiosity, and some molecules gather a story over many decades. 2-Piperazin-1-ylethanol isn’t a household name, but it has tracked through labs since the mid-twentieth century. In early years, piperazine derivatives drew attention for their potential in medicine and industry. Chemists noticed that introducing an ethanol group to the piperazine core gave rise to new reactivity. The first published syntheses appeared in specialized journals long before digital sharing, relying on simple glassware and fundamental organics knowledge. As research widened beyond Western Europe and North America, laboratories worldwide added their own tweaks and methods for building this compound, steadily laying a groundwork for broader access and study.
At its core, 2-piperazin-1-ylethanol comes from the coupling of piperazine and ethanolamine fragments, which folds the flexibility and burst of functionality chemists chase for more specialized builds. It’s a colorless to pale yellow liquid at room temperature, blending well with water and many organic solvents, which speaks volumes in any practical chemistry workflow. Its presence in industry reflects a blend of reactivity, moderate stability, and compatibility with complex synthesis. You won’t find it sold in corner shops but almost every catalog of chemical suppliers carries this intermediate. Known by alternative names like N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine or Piperazine Ethanol, it bridges research, manufacturing, and even regulatory filing with a certain reliability.
Measured up close, 2-piperazin-1-ylethanol stands out for being a crystalline solid with a moderate melting point, somewhere around 40°C. Its boiling point hovers near 300°C, so most reactions and storage run safely below any breakdown temperature. Its solubility in water and alcohols gives chemists elbow room to mix, react, and clean up without needing exotic equipment. The molecular formula, C6H14N2O, gives it both a reasonable size for manipulation and enough scope for functional group play. With a molecular weight of 130.19 g/mol, monitoring mass spectra or chromatograms becomes much easier. The molecule’s basicity remains tamed by the ethanol group, making it a dependable intermediate for reactions that don’t tolerate aggressive bases.
Strict batch labeling, purity assays, and quality control make this compound suitable for sensitive R&D and pilot production. Suppliers provide detailed safety data sheets (SDS) with accurate CAS number, batch identifiers, and expiration dates. Typical commercial grades arrive above 98% purity, which passes muster for most pharmaceutical synthesis and fine chemical industries. Chemical barcodes, detailed on the packaging, streamline lab inventory processes. Every package includes storage conditions and hazard classifications, compliant with regulations from REACH in Europe to OSHA standards in North America. Label transparency builds trust for scientists counting on batch-to-batch reproducibility and hassle-free regulatory inspection.
Chemists usually make 2-piperazin-1-ylethanol by reacting piperazine with ethylene oxide or 2-chloroethanol in a basic aqueous or alcoholic solution. This route generally avoids harsh reagents and allows temperature control, giving high yields if you keep the pH balanced and control the stoichiometry. Some labs prefer direct alkylation with excess ethanolamine, followed by purification through distillation or crystallization. Over time, changes in solvents, catalysts, and work-up steps have improved safety and efficiency. These processes benefit from straightforward monitoring, with TLC or HPLC tracking conversion and common spectroscopic tools like NMR confirming the product’s identity.
The true power of 2-piperazin-1-ylethanol lies in its twin reactive centers. The secondary amine in the piperazine ring invites acylation, sulfonation, or alkylation, letting researchers design molecules for diverse applications. The primary alcohol end reacts smoothly with acids, isocyanates, or through Mitsunobu conditions, opening access to esters, urethanes, or other custom groups. Medicinal chemists regularly harness both functionalities to fine-tune solubility or binding affinity in new drug candidates. This versatility has fueled its reputation as a valuable “building block” both in combinatorial synthesis and more directed organic projects. Extra steps sometimes even protect the ethanol group or convert it to a leaving group for ring-closure or chain extension reactions.
Depending on catalog or country, you might find 2-piperazin-1-ylethanol called N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine, 1-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine, or Piperazine ethanol. CAS number 103-76-4 conveniently points buyers and regulators toward the exact compound, reducing confusion when similar molecules appear in literature. Some suppliers brand the product in proprietary ways, tying it to a line of amine intermediates or labeling for specific pharmaceutical routes. Recognizing these synonyms prevents costly ordering mistakes and research delays, which is crucial in fast-paced project settings where lab time means real money.
Handling 2-piperazin-1-ylethanol calls for the same discipline as most low molecular weight organics. Inhalation of vapor or skin exposure causes mild irritation, and safety data emphasize the need for eye protection and gloves. Labs usually set up local ventilation and spill containment even though the material doesn’t easily ignite or decompose. Its moderate toxicity profile makes it less hazardous than many reagents, yet regulatory compliance demands closed containers, correct waste disposal, and accurate labeling. Personnel receive regular safety training, and emergency protocols lean on well-rehearsed actions for chemical exposures. In industry, automated dosing and sealed blending keep both workers and the environment protected, showing lessons learned from decades of safe chemical stewardship.
Industrial uses center on its role as a versatile intermediate, enabling synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients, specialty dyes, and agrochemicals. In the pharmaceutical world, researchers often use it to build antiemetic, antihistamine, or anti-infective drugs, linking its structure to both solubility and metabolic stability tweaks. In the polymer sector, its alcohol and amine groups find use as chain extenders and cross-linking agents, fine-tuning hardness and flexibility in coatings or adhesives. Education labs sometimes adopt it for training on multi-step organic transformations, thanks to its manageable hazard level and the visually distinct conversion markers in test tubes and chromatography plates. This compound doesn’t just park in dusty chemical storage—it actively bridges research concepts and box-ready products.
People often forget the hidden journey that brings a chemical from academic paper to industrial scale. Investigators remain curious about new functionalizations of the molecule, exploring greener synthesis and ways to attach novel groups. Funding drives efforts into predictive modeling for better biological activity or reactivity, and machine learning algorithms crunch through structure-activity data faster than ever. Cross-disciplinary teams now look beyond classical chemistry, blending automated synthesis, AI-guided reaction route planning, and high-throughput screening. A focus on sustainability means labs look to reduce waste solvents and energy, drawing on real-world feedback from every failed flask and successful column.
Toxicity data for 2-piperazin-1-ylethanol show moderate risk profiles. Acute oral and dermal toxicity rates suggest careful but manageable use. Chronic exposure studies are rare, but regulatory filings and published research track its effects on animal models and eco-toxicity. Wastewater monitoring programs ensure disposal does not impact local waterways or trigger regulatory violations. Lab notes and incident records rarely show severe accidents when safety protocols are respected, but vigilance never fades. Ongoing research updates the global understanding, as even minor modifications or impurities demand close health and safety review.
Future interest in 2-piperazin-1-ylethanol depends on continued innovation across sectors. Rising attention to “greener” processes moves the field toward catalysts that lower energy needs or eliminate dangerous byproducts. AI and automation promise fresh pathways for both synthesis and application, reducing production costs and speeding up discovery. Regulations on chemical safety grow stricter, pushing for even tighter impurity limits and cleaner supply chains—both challenges and opportunities for suppliers and scientists alike. As new drugs and specialty materials demand ever-tighter synthetic control, the need for efficient and reliable intermediates only intensifies. The journey of this molecule reflects the broader story of chemistry: steady adaptation, creative problem-solving, and practical results built from old foundations and bold new tools.
