Ethyl Piperidine-3-Carboxylate holds an interesting spot in medicinal chemistry. Its story begins in the labs of the mid-20th century, a time when researchers chased new heterocyclic structures to broaden their toolbox for drug development. Interest ramped up as the medical community’s focus turned to molecules that could structurally mimic neurotransmitters and other bioactive compounds. This ester derivative, built on the backbone of a piperidine ring, appealed to scientists working on synthetic routes for anesthetics, antipsychotics, and other classes of pharmaceuticals. Over the decades, organic chemists gradually refined its synthesis, keyed into scalable methods, and introduced variations of functional groups. With each improvement, the compound’s commercial and academic footprint increased—from niche laboratory curiosity to a standard building block in research worldwide.
The core structure of Ethyl Piperidine-3-Carboxylate makes it more than a passing interest in industrial and academic labs. The piperidine ring provides a strong starting scaffold, and the carboxylate ester group sets the stage for functionalization. I’ve encountered suppliers marketing this compound in various grades, from research-only to higher purity selections for active pharmaceutical ingredient synthesis. The physical product typically appears as a colorless to pale yellow liquid, stored in airtight containers to prevent moisture ingress and maintain stability. Most suppliers label it with CAS number 1126-09-6, using alternate names like 1-Ethoxycarbonylpiperidine or simply EPC.
Looking at the numbers, Ethyl Piperidine-3-Carboxylate has a molecular formula of C8H15NO2 with a molar mass sitting at 157.21 g/mol. Boiling point falls within 215-220°C, and a density near 1.02 g/cm³ at room temperature. The ester moiety, not surprisingly, imparts a characteristic sweet odor, but that is mainly relevant when handling in close quarters. It dissolves fairly well in organic solvents like ethanol, chloroform, and ether, but shows much less affinity for water—typical behavior for small esters. I’ve seen it crystallize under reduced temperature, but under standard storage, it remains a liquid, especially in unopened containers. This profile fits right in for folks interested in straightforward purification or downstream modifications.
Suppliers handling Ethyl Piperidine-3-Carboxylate document technical specifications with some rigor. Purity routinely reaches 98% or higher, with residual water less than 0.1% as measured by Karl Fischer titration. Heavy metals are almost always controlled below 10 ppm, given regulatory and safety pressures. Labels on bottles specify purity levels, the batch or lot number, recommended storage conditions (2–8°C, airtight, away from light), and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) name for clarity. Any hazards—flammable liquid, risk of skin/eye irritation—land right on the front, reinforced by GHS pictograms and hazard statements.
Anyone synthesizing Ethyl Piperidine-3-Carboxylate tends to start with 3-piperidinecarboxylic acid. The classic method involves Fischer esterification—combining the acid with ethanol and a catalytic drop of sulfuric acid under reflux. The reaction mixture heats until equilibrium is reached; at this point, excess ethanol helps drive the reaction to completion. I’ve also seen alternative routes using coupling reagents like DCC (N,N'-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide), especially in scenarios where milder conditions are needed. Once the reaction finishes, extraction with nonpolar solvents like diethyl ether pulls the ester out of the aqueous mix before the final purification steps—commonly rotary evaporation and flash column chromatography to ensure high chemical purity.
Research chemists use Ethyl Piperidine-3-Carboxylate as a stepping stone for making a range of analogues. The ester group stands out for potential hydrolysis—using acid or base, one can revert back to the carboxylic acid or move to an amide by further reactions with amines. Reductive amination, alkylation, and even substitution on the piperidine nitrogen open up libraries of derivatives. Cross-coupling reactions further extend its significance in medicinal chemistry, especially for tuning solubility and bioactivity. Some routes produce arylated derivatives for CNS-active molecules, while others focus on incorporating fluorine or other small moieties to boost metabolic stability. Each transformation leans on robust literature methods, allowing teams to quickly probe structure-activity relationships in drug candidates.
The chemical market recognizes Ethyl Piperidine-3-Carboxylate under several tags. While its IUPAC name, ethyl piperidine-3-carboxylate, gets formal use, you’ll also spot commercial catalogs listing Piperidine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester, EPC, or its abbreviated chemical formula. CAS 1126-09-6 reliably connects buyers and sellers, even across different languages and regulatory frameworks. Researchers sometimes abbreviate names on internal paperwork, so vigilance with cross-checking structures, suppliers, and lot purity remains essential.
Handling this ester calls for careful attention to standard laboratory safety. Even though it doesn’t top toxicity charts, its volatility raises the risk of inhalation or skin exposure during sample transfer. Goggles, gloves, and lab coats make up the standard attire. Good air flow or use of a fume hood helps control odor and reduce inhalation risks. Safety Data Sheets, updated with the latest hazard information, instruct users on spill management, accidental exposure treatment, and proper disposal routes—usually incineration under controlled conditions. Every step tries to lower risk, especially during scale-up and transfer to manufacturing. Routine training reinforces best practices, and regular maintenance checks on storage setups—sealed glass containers, cool and dry conditions—cut the odds of unintended exposure.
Ethyl Piperidine-3-Carboxylate crops up often in pharmaceutical discovery, serving as a key intermediate for synthetic routes toward drugs acting on the central nervous system. Medicinal chemists rely on its framework to fashion molecules acting as antipsychotics, antidepressants, or anesthetics. Outside pharma, it appears in agrochemical research, offering a skeleton to build plant-protective agents. Academic labs also turn to it for structure-activity relationship studies, probing how tweaks to the piperidine ring impact biological activity. I’ve seen research into the environmental breakdown paths of its derivatives, looking for safer, slower-to-accumulate molecules for both medicine and agriculture.
The R&D space around Ethyl Piperidine-3-Carboxylate continues to grow. Teams explore its substitutions at each ring position, scanning for bioactive profiles that steer clear of unwanted off-target actions. Collaboration across chemistry, biology, and computational modeling accelerates new molecule design—moving faster from benchtop to animal testing and, ultimately, human studies. Patent activity reveals an uptick in CNS-active compounds—driven by unmet clinical needs around depression, schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative diseases. I see startups and universities leveraging advances in automated synthesis and real-time analysis, squeezing more information out of every batch. Custom analogues, built on this ester core, fill screening libraries for pharma giants, who hope the next blockbuster can start with a piperidine template.
Lab animal studies show that this compound falls into a moderate range of acute toxicity. Most incidents relate to inhalation or accidental ingestion, with outcomes tied to dose and duration. Repeat exposure can cause irritation in mucous membranes, and higher doses show impacts on the liver or nervous system. Occupational studies stress the importance of personal protective equipment and engineering controls in keeping incident rates low. Regulatory bodies update exposure limits based on fresh data, tightening workplace standards over time. Chronic toxicity hasn’t shown significant red flags in published reports, but as new analogues come into use, ongoing vigilance remains key to avoiding long-term health impacts.
Looking ahead, Ethyl Piperidine-3-Carboxylate will continue to carve out relevance in drug discovery. The piperidine scaffold, proved through decades of use, keeps showing promise as scientists screen for next-generation treatments. Advances in green chemistry will likely yield safer, less wasteful synthetic methods, while automation and AI-driven synthesis platforms may shrink development cycles. New toxicity screening platforms promise to accelerate preclinical evaluation, pushing safer and more selective molecules toward trial. Environmental stewardship sits higher on industry agendas—driving changes in waste management, greener reagents, and lower-emission work protocols. Every new study adds to its story, shaping where it fits in tomorrow’s pharmaceutical and chemical landscape.
