MOLECULE

ethanolamine

Ethanolamine, also known as aminoethanol or glycinol, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as 1,2-aminoalcohols. These are organic compounds containing an alkyl chain with an amine group bound to the C1 atom and an alcohol group bound to the C2 atom. Ethanolamine is a weak basic compound (based on its pKa). Ethanolamine exists in all living species, ranging from bacteria to humans and it is also present in Cannabis sativa plants (PMID: 6991645). Ethanolamine can be converted into O-phosphoethanolamine through the action of the enzyme choline/ethanolamine kinase. In humans, ethanolamine is involved in phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. Ethanolamine has been detected in several different foods, such as millets, chickpea, abalones, common salsifies, and oriental wheats. Like other amines, monoethanolamine is a weak base and this property is exploited in its use in gas scrubbing. The ratio of the products can be controlled by the stoichiometry of the reactants. Reacting ethanolamine with ammonia gives ethylenediamine, a precursor of the commonly used chelating agent EDTA. It is also used in messenger molecules such as palmitoylethanolamide, which has an effect on CB1 receptors.