2-mercaptoethanol

2-Mercaptoethanol (CAS 60-24-2), also called β-mercaptoethanol or BME, is a thiol-functional reducing agent.

Where is 2-mercaptoethanol used?

• Biotechnology and protein biochemistry: standard reagent for denaturing proteins before gel electrophoresis
• Research: maintaining reduced thiol states in cell culture and buffer systems
• Textile and leather processing: cleaving disulfide linkages in keratin fibers, enabling permanent wave treatments, fiber softening and chemical modification of wool
• Pharmaceutical synthesis: intermediate in the production of thiol-containing active compounds
• Personal care: depilatory and hair-relaxing formulations where controlled keratin disruption is required
• It breaks disulfide bonds in proteins and polymers, enabling controlled denaturation.

Commercial specifications

• 98–99% purity for technical and laboratory-grade applications
• Bulk quantities for industrial users; smaller pack sizes for research and QC laboratory supply