1. Synthesis step: 63.1 g of diethylene glycolamine (0.6 mol) and 34.5 g of paraformaldehyde (1.2 mol) were added to a 250 mL three-necked flask and stirred for 30 minutes. Subsequently, 63 g of formic acid (1.2 mol, 88%) was added slowly and dropwise. The reaction mixture was heated to 100-110°C and kept at this temperature for 1 hour. Upon completion of the reaction, 30 g of the fraction was distilled under reduced pressure (vacuum -0.094 MPa, kettle temperature 80°C). At this time, the content of the product 2-[2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy]ethanol was 90.0% and the content of impurity (S-2) was 9.8%.
2. Purification step: the above reaction solution was transferred to a 500 mL distillation flask and distilled under reduced pressure (-0.094 MPa). Firstly, the fraction at 62°C was collected, which was mainly n-butanol ester exchange product and butyl formate. Subsequently, the fraction at 121 °C, the target product 2-[2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy]ethanol, was collected, and a total of 128.3 g was obtained in 96.5% yield and 99.9% product purity.
![2-[2-(Dimethylamino)ethoxy]ethanol](/CAS/GIF/1704-62-7.gif)