3-Methylpiperidine belongs to the piperidine family and wears a methyl group at the third position. You find this colorless to pale yellow liquid—or sometimes solid in colder rooms—turning up in laboratories, chemical manufacturing plants, and specialty synthesis workshops around the world. Its CAS Number is 626-57-5 and chemists know its chemical formula as C6H13N. The molecular structure consists of a six-membered ring with five carbons and one nitrogen, and the addition of a methyl substituent makes a difference in both handling and reactivity compared to the simpler piperidine.
On the shelf, 3-Methylpiperidine can look deceivingly simple, but a closer look reveals some essential properties that professionals handling chemicals keep in mind daily. At room temperature, this chemical appears as a colorless to faintly yellow liquid, with a density around 0.85 g/cm³. It carries a sharp, fishy, and very noticeable amine odor, which signals its presence in any workspace without fail. Boiling takes place near 135°C. 3-Methylpiperidine mixes with water somewhat but not completely, and just about any organic solvent takes it up easily—the kind of feature that makes it useful in both small and bulk reactions. As for solubility, it partners well with alcohols and ethers. It’s sold and shipped as both raw material and intermediate, in metal drums or glass containers, depending on the volume and hazards involved.
Chemists receive 3-Methylpiperidine most often in liquid form. Purity levels and actual storage temperatures dictate physical state; in a freezing warehouse, you might spot it forming crystals or even flakes. Rarely, this compound pops up as a powder or in pearls, but these forms demand careful packing and specific orders. For every order, detailed product specifications outline minimum purity (often above 98%), detailed storage instructions, and GHS safety handling information. Every drum, flask, or kilo of solid comes with a label that lowers the risk of workplace mix-ups; safety and compliance remain constant companions in chemical work.
Distributors and suppliers reference 3-Methylpiperidine by its HS Code: 2933399090 in most international trade settings. Anyone who has worked with this material knows it poses significant hazards: its vapors irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and concentrated exposure can damage respiratory systems and skin. Safety teams require well-maintained personal protective equipment—chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, and strict adherence to fume hood operation. Spills need fast and effective cleanup to limit employee risk. Local and international chemical safety regulations (such as REACH, TSCA, and GHS) demand thorough labeling, up-to-date safety data sheets, and a full log of inventory movement for every company that stocks or ships this compound. Improper storage or disposal quickly leads to regulatory trouble and real harm to the environment, especially if it leaks into water systems or soil.
3-Methylpiperidine gets called up as a core building block in synthesis. Pharmaceutical firms choose it for pharmaceutical intermediates, agrochemical manufacturers use it for insecticides and herbicides, and academic researchers lean on it for custom reactions. Demand fluctuates based on downstream product need, in everything from active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to flavors and specialty coatings. This compound rarely stands alone in a finished product; it plays its role mostly as a raw material, a stepping stone that never gets the spotlight but underpins the creation of more complicated molecules. Any company planning an industrial route involving nitrogen heterocycles benefits from a reliable supplier and a deep understanding of 3-Methylpiperidine’s quirks.
Anyone who keeps this substance in their inventory faces a few hard truths. The chemical’s strong odor makes it hard to miss a leak, but ventilation gets tested with every shipment. Waste disposal stands out as a responsibility; improper neutralization or direct disposal leads to fines or lasting environmental scars. One solution involves investing in containment strategies—better seals on drums, closed-system transfers, continuous air quality monitoring—and providing employees hands-on safety training. Switching to less hazardous secondary amines where possible, or redesigning synthesis routes to use smaller amounts, can cut down exposure risks. Firms with a focus on green chemistry work toward processes that create less waste and demand weaker bases or greener solvents—changes that don’t only keep people safer but help companies avoid supply chain hiccups linked to regulations or trade restrictions.
Looking at 3-Methylpiperidine through a practical lens reveals a story about industrial chemistry as lived: safety mixed with opportunity and consequence. The raw data—boiling points, density, HS Codes—only matter in the context of daily work, real regulations, and the push for safer handling. Choosing the proper packaging for shipment, following strict cleanup rules, and balancing costs for pure versus technical grade—all these decisions shape both bottom lines and environmental footprints. People new to the industry often underestimate what a single simple-looking molecule means in the bigger process picture; for those with hands-on experience, the properties and risks of 3-Methylpiperidine hint at the broader lessons of modern chemistry—balancing efficiency with duty of care, innovation with protection, and profit with accountability.
