Dimethylethanolamine (DMAE or DMEA) is an organic compound with the formula (CH3)2NCH2CH2OH. It is bifunctional, containing both a tertiary amine and primary alcohol functional groups. It is a colorless viscous liquid. It is used in skin care products for improving skin tone and also taken orally as a nootropic. It is prepared by the ethoxylation of dimethylamine.[2]

Industrial uses

Dimethylaminoethanol is used as a curing agent for polyurethanes and epoxy resins. It is a precursor to other chemicals, such as the nitrogen mustard 2-dimethylaminoethyl chloride.[3] The acrylate ester is used as a flocculating agent.

Related compounds are used in gas purification, e.g. removal of hydrogen sulfide from sour gas streams.

Nutraceutical uses

The bitartrate salt of DMAE, i.e. N,N-dimethylethanolamine bitartrate, is sold as a dietary supplement.[4] It is a white powder providing 37% DMAE.[5]

Animal tests show possible benefit for improving spatial memory[6] and working memory.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Littel, RJ; Bos, M; Knoop, GJ (1990). "Dissociation constants of some alkanolamines at 293, 303, 318, and 333 K" (PDF). Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data. 35 (3): 276–77. doi:10.1021/je00061a014. INIST:19352048.
  2. ^ Matthias Frauenkron, Johann-Peter Melder, Günther Ruider, Roland Rossbacher, Hartmut Höke (2002). "Ethanolamines and Propanolamines". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a10_001. ISBN 978-3527306732.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  3. ^ Ashford's Dictionary of Industrial Chemicals, 3rd edition, 2011, ISBN 978-0-9522674-3-0, p. 3294.
  4. ^ Karen E. Haneke & Scott Masten, 2002, "Dimethylethanolamine (DMAE) [108-01-0] and Selected Salts and Esters: Review of Toxicological Literature (Update)," Report on National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Contract No. N01-ES-65402, November 2002, from Contractee Integrated Laboratory Systems, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, see [1], accessed 30 April 2015.
  5. ^ Sigma Aldrich: Safety Data Sheet: 2-Dimethylaminoethanol (+)-bitartrate
  6. ^ Blin, O., Audebert, C., Pitel, S. et al. Effects of dimethylaminoethanol pyroglutamate (DMAE p-Glu) against memory deficits induced by scopolamine: evidence from preclinical and clinical studies. Psychopharmacology 207, 201 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-009-1648-7
  7. ^ Edward D Levin, Jed E Rose, Leo Abood. Effects of nicotinic dimethylaminoethyl esters on working memory performance of rats in the radial-arm maze. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior. Volume 51, Issues 2–3, 1995, Pages 369-373, ISSN 0091-3057, https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-3057(94)00406-9.