2-[2-(2-Dimethylamino-ethoxy)ethoxy]ethanol (99%)

Name: 2-[2-(2-Dimethylamino-ethoxy)ethoxy]ethanol 

Molecular Formula: C8H19NO3 

CAS#: 2741-30-2 

SMILES: CN(C)CCOCCOCCO 

MDL#: MFCD06252301 

Catalog#: AMTGC560-DE20 

Molecular weight: 177.24 g/mol 

Other names: 

• 2-(2-[2-(DIMETHYLAMINO)ETHOXY]ETHOXYETHAN-1-OL 

• N,N-Dimethyl-2-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethylamine  

• Dimethylamino-PEG2-alcohol  

• PEG2 tertiary amine alcohol  

• Tertiary amine PEG alcohol linker 

Fields of Interest: bioconjugation, materials science, polymer chemistry, and specialty chemical synthesis 

Background & Applications:  

Background 

Dimethylamino-PEG2-alcohol is a multifunctional tertiary amine-functionalized PEG derivative based on a PEG2 backbone, featuring a terminal primary alcohol and a dimethylamino group. The ether-rich structure provides hydrophilicity, flexibility, and excellent compatibility with both aqueous and organic systems, while the tertiary amine imparts basicity and ionizable character. The hydroxyl group serves as a versatile synthetic handle for esterification, etherification, and activation chemistry, making this compound a useful intermediate for the preparation of more complex PEG-based reagents. Its combination of hydrophilic PEG character, tertiary amine functionality, and alcohol reactivity makes it a valuable building block for linker synthesis, surfactant development, and specialty chemical applications. Similar amino alcohol ethers have been widely utilized as intermediates, catalysts, and functional additives across industrial and research applications.  

Applications 

Dimethylamino-PEG2-alcohol is commonly used in bioconjugation, materials science, polymer chemistry, and specialty chemical synthesis applications where hydrophilicity and ionizable functionality are desired. Typical uses include preparation of PEGylated intermediates, synthesis of cationic or ionizable molecules, incorporation into surfactants and polymer additives, and conversion into activated PEG linkers through modification of the terminal hydroxyl group. Tertiary amino ethers of this class have also been investigated as intermediates for specialty surfactants, catalysts, corrosion-inhibitor precursors, and other performance chemicals. The combination of a tertiary amine, terminal alcohol, and PEG spacer enables flexible, stepwise synthetic strategies while improving solubility and formulation properties. 

Appearance: Yellow liquid 

Purity: 99% 

Storage: Room Temperature 

Solubility: Dichloromethane, Chloroform, Methanol 

Literature: 

While peer-reviewed literature specifically naming 2-[2-(2-Dimethylamino-ethoxy)ethoxy]ethanol is limited, closely related tertiary amino ether alcohols have been extensively studied for their physicochemical properties and industrial utility. Research on amino ether alcohols has examined their acid–base behavior, CO₂ absorption characteristics, and use as intermediates in surfactant and specialty chemical synthesis. Representative examples include studies by Liu et al. (AIChE Journal, 2023) on amine pKa determination and by Shaban et al. (Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2016) on cationic surfactants derived from dimethylaminoethoxy alcohol intermediates. These publications provide useful context for the broader class of tertiary amine-functionalized PEG-like intermediates to which this compound belongs. 

• Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2018, vol. 28, # 4, p. 737 – 741 

• Molecules, 2020, vol. 25, # 9, art. no. 2056 

• Green Chemistry, 2022, vol. 24, # 19, p. 7675 – 7681