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.

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 Nitrogen mustards are cytotoxic organic compounds with the chloroethylamine (Cl(CH2)2NR2) functional group. Although originally produced as chemical warfare agents, they were the first chemotherapeutic agents for treatment of cancer. Nitrogen m ...

2-dimethylaminoethyl chloride. 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. 2-dimethylaminoethanol (+)-bitartrate, is sold as a dietary supplement. It is a white powder providing 37% DMAE. Animal tests show possible benefit for improving

spatial memory In cognitive psychology and neuroscience, spatial memory is a form of memory responsible for the recording and recovery of information needed to plan a course to a location and to recall the location of an object or the occurrence of an event. Sp ...

and working memory.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.

References

{{Acetylcholine receptor modulators Dimethylamino compounds Primary alcohols Cholinergics Nootropics Corrosion inhibitors Ethanolamines

Industrial uses

Nutraceutical uses

See also

References