What Is Phenethylamine?
Phenethylamine is an organic compound with C6H5(CH2)2NH2 and C8H11N.
It is an alkaloidal monoamine with the IUPAC nomenclature 2-phenylethanamine and other names such as β-phenylethylamine and 2-phenethylamine.
The CAS registration number is 64-04-0. Although the names are very similar, it should be noted that 1-phenylethylamine (also known as α-phenylethylamine, CAS No. 98-84-0) is a different compound.
Uses of Phenethylamine
The main use of phenethylamine is as a flavoring agent. It is registered as a food additive. In Europe and the United States, phenethylamine is used in processed foods, especially in baked goods, gelatin/puddings, meat products, soft candies, frozen dairy products, soft drinks, etc. Phenethylamine is also used as a flavor enhancer in various processed foods.
Phenethylamine is also believed to function as a neuromodifier and neurotransmitter in the human brain. Because of their structural similarity to monoamine neurotransmitters, many of their derivatives, substituted phenethylamines, are known to possess pharmacological activity.
For this reason, a group of derivatives of phenethylamine are used as drugs and medicines or as intermediate raw materials for pharmaceuticals. Phenethylamine derivatives with pharmacological activity include hypoallergenics, bronchodilators, and antidepressants in pharmaceuticals, and stimulants, hallucinogens, and empathogens in illicit drugs.
Characteristics of Phenethylamine
Phenethylamine has a molecular weight of 121.18, a melting point of -60°C, and a boiling point of 198°C. It is a clear colorless to yellowish brown liquid at room temperature. It has a fishlike odor, a pH of 11.5 (4.3 g/L, 20°C), and a density of 0.962 g/mL (20°C).
It is extremely soluble in ethanol, diethyl ether, and acetone, and soluble in water. It has a flash point of 90°C (tag sealed) and should be treated as a highly flammable liquid and vapor.
It is also known to react with carbon dioxide (CO2) to form carbonates when exposed to air.
Types of Phenethylamine
Phenethylamine is typically sold as a reagent product for R&D/pilot studies. The types of volumes include 25mL, 50mL, 100mL, and 500mL. This reagent product can be stored at room temperature due to its stable compounds.
Since hydrochloride is a solid, hydrochloride salt is sometimes used for ease of handling. This chemical is also commonly sold as a reagent product.
Other Information on Phenethylamine
Derivatives of Phenethylamine
Various compounds with chemical modifications in the phenyl group, side chain, and amino group are known as phenethylamine derivatives. For example, amphetamine, a drug with indirect adrenergic receptor stimulating effects (clinically applicable in the United States and other countries, but not in Japan), is a derivative with a α-methyl group adjacent to the amino group on the side chain.
Methamphetamine, widely used in Japan for drug abuse, is a derivative of amphetamine with a methyl group substituted on the nitrogen atom. Phenethylamine derivatives with hydroxy groups on the third and fourth positions of the phenyl group are classified as catecholamines, and include the transdermal substances levodopa, dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline.
The aromatic amino acids of phenylalanine and tyrosine are also phenethylamine derivatives with a carboxyl group at the α-position.