3-Methylamino-1,2-propanediol (MAPD) is synthesized by reacting 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (CPD) with
monomethyl amine in alkaline environment by adding sodium hydroxide.
Afterwards, the product undergoes a series of purification steps.
N-Methyl-1-amino-2,3-propandiol (45A) Methylamine (172ml of a 40% solution in water, 2 mol) was cooled to 0 °C and 2,3-epoxy-1-propanol (25g, 0.34mol) was added at a rate to maintain the temperature at or below 10 °C. The mixture was stirred for 3 hours at 0 °C. Excess methylamine and water was evaporated in vacuo and the product was purified by distillation at 103-105 °C, at 0.5 mm Hg, to give the compound 3-Methylamino-1,2-propanediol.