1-N-Cbz-3-Piperidone, known by its molecular formula C13H15NO3, lands on the list of essential raw materials in the pharmaceutical research and agrochemical fields. At a glance, this compound stands out among others in its class thanks to its structural features. The Cbz group—short for carbobenzyloxy—attaches to the nitrogen atom of the piperidone ring, working as a key protective group in chemical synthesis. A lot of folks working in synthetic chemistry have come across this molecule while figuring out more complicated synthesis pathways, given its reliable role as a starting point or intermediate.
You spot 1-N-Cbz-3-piperidone in labs both as a white to off-white crystalline solid or sometimes appearing as small flakes, solid powder, or even pearly grains depending on the preparation and storage. Its molar mass clocks in at about 233.26 g/mol. Anyone who's ever opened a jar of this stuff will notice the lack of strong odor, which helps in safer handling—though gloves always stay on the hands. Density lands somewhere close to 1.18 g/cm³, which gives a clue about how it behaves in solution, especially when chemists dissolve it in organic solvents like dichloromethane or ethyl acetate. It's not one of those volatile compounds—so you won’t see it evaporating away at room temperature—but it does need to be kept away from high heat or open flames because every organic solid brings at least some risk if handled carelessly.
The skeleton of 1-N-Cbz-3-piperidone contains a six-membered piperidone ring, with the carbonyl group at the third position and the carbobenzyloxy (Cbz) moiety sitting on the nitrogen. That structural detail decides much about the molecule’s reactivity. In my experience, this combination of ring and protecting group lets the compound serve both as a flexible intermediate in peptide synthesis and a useful scaffold in medicinal chemistry. Chemists lean on the Cbz group for its stability under a lot of reaction conditions, only stripping it away at the end of a multi-step process using hydrogenolysis or strong acid. These features allow new bonds to form exactly where they’re wanted without throwing the rest of the molecule into chaos.
In practice, you’ll usually find 1-N-Cbz-3-piperidone offered in bulk powders or solid flakes, and rarely as a solution unless custom requests appear. Packing stays sturdy because contact with moisture or strong sunlight might degrade both the efficiency and purity, with most suppliers favoring double-sealed plastic jars tucked in foil bags. The amount in a single liter depends on the packing density, but on average, researchers order from grams up to several kilograms according to project scale. The compound’s crystals tend to resist caking, so long-term storage proves pretty reliable, especially in cool, dry environments—think lab refrigerators, not the back of a hot delivery truck.
Shipping and importing 1-N-Cbz-3-piperidone into most countries happens under the HS Code 2933399090, which covers diverse nitrogen-containing organic compounds. Regulations as a raw material usually tie back to its use in pharmaceutical developments or specialty fine chemicals, though anyone in the supply chain must keep up with changing guidelines on precursor chemicals. The compound’s legal status varies depending on region and intended application, and keeping paperwork up to date saves a ton of headaches down the road.
Working with 1-N-Cbz-3-piperidone safely means following every standard chemical safety protocol. Direct contact with skin or eyes gets avoided—chemical burns and irritation, while rare with this molecule, remain a risk nobody enjoys dealing with. Fume hoods and gloves take their place as the rule rather than the exception, especially during weighing and transfer. Inhalation of dust does not bring acute toxicity based on the available data, but repeated exposure never brings good results, so a mask helps when handling larger batches. For disposal, controlled incineration or specialized chemical waste bins always beat flushing anything down the drain. Out in the real world, accidental misuse almost never comes from handling the pure powder but more often through cross-contamination or poor labeling; training and clear labeling go a long way in preventing slipups with this raw material.
The presence of 1-N-Cbz-3-piperidone on a reagent shelf opens up all sorts of doors for synthetic chemistry labs, especially those chasing new drug candidates or complex natural product analogs. Its role as both an intermediate and a scaffold places value on its chemical purity and structural integrity from batch to batch. Chemists depend on getting lots that dissolve, react, and purify as expected, which means every supplier benefits from tightening up synthesis routes and quality control to reduce unwanted side products. Maybe downstream, improvements in greener synthesis or easier deprotection steps for the Cbz group could make the world of raw materials a little less wasteful—and a little safer.
Few things drive home the value of 1-N-Cbz-3-piperidone quite like a tough multistep synthesis in the lab. Time and again, it has shown itself as a reliable raw material, powering up libraries of new molecules and giving synthetic chemists the tools they need to chase after new discoveries. Cleaner production, responsible sourcing, and updated safety information keep it moving smoothly from factory to bench; better attention to these details protects both the people handling the product and the environment that eventually absorbs the remains of every chemical experiment.
