Betaine aldehyde chloride

Betaine aldehyde chloride (CAS 7758-31-8), also known as trimethyl(2-oxoethyl)azanium chloride, is a quaternary ammonium aldehyde salt used primarily as a biochemical intermediate and synthetic precursor. It functions as a key building block in the enzymatic and chemical synthesis of betaine and related compounds, supporting research and manufacturing workflows across pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.

In pharmaceutical synthesis, it serves as a direct precursor in the production of betaine and choline-pathway metabolites, supporting active pharmaceutical ingredient development for various applications. Biotechnology researchers use it as a substrate in enzyme activity assays, particularly for studying betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase, making it a standard reagent in metabolic pathway research.

In personal care formulation development, it supports the synthesis of moisturizing actives where betaine derivatives are the target end product for high-quality cosmetic manufacturing. It also appears in specialty chemical research where controlled aldehyde-amine reactivity is required for constructing quaternary nitrogen scaffolds and other complex molecular structures.

Betaine aldehyde chloride is typically supplied as a crystalline solid or aqueous solution, with concentration and purity specifications varying by the intended industrial or laboratory use. Research and reagent-grade material is the most commonly available form, supplied in small to mid-scale quantities suited to laboratory and pilot-scale applications for chemical buyers.