amiinialkoholi

Amiinialkoholi, also known as amino alcohol, is a class of organic compounds that contain both an amino group (–NH2) and a hydroxyl group (–OH) within the same molecule. These two functional groups can be attached to the same carbon atom or to different carbon atoms within a carbon chain. The presence of both a basic amino group and a polar hydroxyl group gives amiinialkoholi amphoteric properties, meaning they can react as both acids and bases.

The simplest amiinialkoholi is 2-aminoethanol, commonly called ethanolamine or monoethanolamine (MEA). Other examples include propanolamines like 2-amino-1-propanol and 3-amino-1-propanol, and butanolamines. The positions of the amino and hydroxyl groups relative to each other are designated by Greek letters (alpha, beta, gamma, etc.), indicating their proximity on the carbon chain.

Amiinialkoholi have a wide range of applications. Ethanolamine, for instance, is used in the production of detergents, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, and as a gas-sweetening agent to remove carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from natural gas. Other amiinialkoholi serve as intermediates in the synthesis of various chemicals, including plastics, dyes, and surfactants. They are also found naturally in biological systems; for example, serine is an amino acid with a hydroxyl group, and choline is an essential nutrient containing an amino alcohol structure.