| Chemical Properties | 2-mercaptoethanol(bME) is a clear colorless liquid. It is a popular effective reducer, but extremely pungent. |
| Uses | 2-Mercaptoethanol is used in the preparation of nano-graphene for cellular imaging and drug delivery as well as multifunctional polymeric micelle. It acts as a reducing agent used in electrophoresis, amino acid detection, and distinguishing ssDNA/dsDNA. It is also employed as a standard buffer. It is also used in the preparation of PVC heat stabilizers and as a chain transfer agent in the manufacture of PVC. Further, it is used in some RNA isolation procedures to eliminate ribonuclease. It is utilized as a corrosion inhibitor and ore floatation agent. In biochemistry, it is useful to study the activity of the immune system. Solubilizes proteins by reducing disulfide linkages. |
| Application | 2-Mercaptoethanol is used in the synthesis of nano-graphene for cellular imaging and drug delivery. Also used in the synthesis of multifunctional polymeric micelle used in specific targeting of tumor disruption. |
| Definition | ChEBI: 2-Mercaptoethanol is a primary alcohol and an alkanethiol. It has a role as a geroprotector. |
| General Description | A water-white liquid. May be toxic by ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption. |
| Air & Water Reactions | No rapid reaction with air. No rapid reaction with water. |
| Reactivity Profile | Organosulfides, such as 2-Mercaptoethanol, are incompatible with acids, diazo and azo compounds, halocarbons, isocyanates, aldehydes, alkali metals, nitrides, hydrides, and other strong reducing agents. Reactions with these materials generate heat and in many cases hydrogen gas. Many of these compounds may liberate hydrogen sulfide upon decomposition or reaction with an acid. |
| Hazard | Toxic by inhalation and ingestion. |
| Health Hazard | TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion or skin contact with material may cause severe injury or death. Contact with molten substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Avoid any skin contact. Effects of contact or inhalation may be delayed. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may be corrosive and/or toxic and cause pollution. |
| Fire Hazard | Combustible material: may burn but does not ignite readily. When heated, vapors may form explosive mixtures with air: indoors, outdoors and sewers explosion hazards. Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Containers may explode when heated. Runoff may pollute waterways. Substance may be transported in a molten form. |
| Safety Profile | Poison by ingestion,
skin contact, and intraperitoneal routes.
Moderately toxic by intravenous route. A
skin and severe eye irritant. Human
mutation data reported. A combustible
liquid when exposed to heat, flame, or
oxidizers. To fight fire, use alcohol foam,
CO2, dry chemical. When heated to
decomposition it emits highly toxic fumes of
SOx. See also MERCAPTANS. |
| Purification Methods | Purify it by distilling in a vacuum. Distilling at atmospheric pressure causes some oxidation and should be done in an inert atmosphere. [Woodward J Chem Soc 1892 1948.] It has a foul odour, is irritating t o the eyes, nose and skin — should be handled in an efficient fume cupboard. It is miscible with H2O, EtOH, Et2O and *C6H6 and the UV has max at 235nm. The 2,4-dinitrophenyl thioether has m 101-102o (from EtOH or aqueous MeOH) [Grogen et al. J Org Chem 20 50 1955]. [Beilstein 1 IV 2428.] |