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Not many outside chemistry circles talk about 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide, yet this compound continues to quietly shape a slice of the modern materials and pharmaceutical world. Chemists have been tinkering with derivatives of phenolic amides for well over a century. Somewhere along the journey, 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide started popping up in research aiming to modify biologically active molecules, especially as methods improved for isolating and characterizing phenolic compounds. Synthetic pathways that used to chew up weeks of lab work now take shape within hours or days, thanks to the evolution in reagent accessibility and purification technology. The growing database of its physical and pharmacological properties stands on decades of incremental improvements in analytical tools, from rudimentary melting point measurements to high-precision spectroscopy.
At its core, 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide springs from the well-known family of hydroxyphenyl compounds, lending itself to tweaks for medical and industrial applications. Whether it's incorporated into a research discovery kit or set for downstream drug design, the compound isn't all that headline-grabbing, but its presence keeps turning up in places where selectivity and reactivity play unique roles. It brings an aromatic backbone with a touch of polarity, which lets it move comfortably between organic and aqueous systems, a trick that brings researchers back each time a new project calls for flexibility. Some may overlook lesser-known building blocks like this one, but chemists recognize its ability to open up synthetic pathways that often produce something far more valuable than the starting material.
4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide, thanks to its aromatic ring and the distinctive hydroxy and amide groups, turns out to be solid at room temperature, white to off-white in appearance, and easily characterized through melting point and solubility tests. Its polarity means water and some alcohols can dissolve it, but its aromaticity also gives it predictable behavior in organic solvents. These features let it fit into both biological environments and organic reaction mixtures. Over the years, chemists have learned that temperature, solvent, and even pH can nudge its reactivity, an advantage during chemical synthesis but a source of unwanted complexity during formulation or storage. Its stability depends on keeping it dry and away from strong acids or bases—something that matters once the compound travels beyond the lab and heads toward scale-up, storage, or transportation.
Working with precise substances like 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide means labels and purity metrics start to matter more than ever. Purity targets remain high, largely because any impurity can affect downstream synthesis or biological evaluation. Most labs track batch numbers, melting points, and solvent compatibility, but in practice, purity by HPLC or NMR serves as the gold standard. Packaging has to stand up to air and moisture, with desiccants or vacuum sealing used for longer-term storage. I recall more than one situation where mislabeling led to a cascade of headaches in reaction reproducibility—a humble label can make or break a whole synthesis campaign.
There is rarely just one way to synthesize a compound, but for 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide, the most straightforward route starts with 4-hydroxyphenylpropanoic acid. Amidation transforms the acid into the amide. Carboxylic acids and amines on their own take forever to react, so modern practice usually involves coupling agents or acid chlorides to push things along. Once the backbone forms, purification by recrystallization or chromatography clears out byproducts. Chemistry textbooks gloss over the details, but anyone who's tried this knows variables like temperature ramp, reagent order, and solvent choice can decide the fate of a whole batch. Synthetic workups get smoother as teams iterate on methods, but new applications often mean going back to square one and troubleshooting all over again.
The reactive positions on 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide let researchers introduce substitutions for tailored biological or material properties. The phenolic oxygen, for instance, serves as a target for methylation, phosphorylation, or even the introduction of longer alkyl chains. Chemists can use reductive amination to tweak the side chain, giving the molecule physicochemical properties designed for a particular task, like binding a receptor or altering solubility in a formulation. Sometimes, these modifications deliver analogs with improved properties for drug discovery projects. Every new functional group—added deliberately or as a side effect—comes with a tradeoff between reactivity and stability.
The naming conventions for 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide wander across catalogs and research papers. The IUPAC name clears up confusion, but most researchers bounce between synonyms like p-hydroxyphenylpropanamide, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanamide, and even derived systematic names when they tag a molecule with a new substituent. Such a tangle of labels can create real trouble for new researchers or suppliers not paying attention. Each supplier comes up with its own abstraction, further muddying the waters. It takes diligence and experience to sort through these aliases and arrive at the exact compound each experiment requires.
In the lab, every compound brings its own quirks. Some people dismiss 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide as a typical organic solid, but prudent chemists always check the latest safety data. As a solid aromatic amide, risks tend to be manageable, with routine precautions—gloves, glasses, and working in a ventilated area—covering most scenarios. Dust inhalation or skin contact may not be as scary as with more reactive intermediates, but complacency can lead to surprises. Storage problems arise if moisture sneaks into containers, leading to clumping or, rarely, hydrolysis. Waste handling needs to respect local regulations, especially as downstream derivatives get more biologically active. Safety is not a box to tick, but an ongoing process that needs refreshing as new data or applications emerge.
Pharmaceutical developers and material scientists both find uses for 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide. One of its most important features is that modifiable phenolic group, which can anchor other functional entities. In drug discovery pipelines, it acts as a core structure for creating new analogs to test against biological receptors. In more specialized chemistry, it turns up in the production of small-molecule inhibitors, enzyme binders, and even as an intermediate for producing agrochemicals. For me, the value of such building blocks resides less in their headline appeal and more in how they quietly unlock broader discovery projects. Its dual identity—both as a research reagent and as a precursor—allows small firms and academic groups to explore new scaffolds without reinventing the wheel each time.
Over recent years, the types of projects that include 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide have stretched far beyond the basics. Academic groups pick apart subtle changes in biological activity tied to minor modifications on the phenolic ring, while industry players sharpen synthetic routes for scalability and cost. Computational modeling now plays a huge role, helping chemists predict properties long before any wet chemistry begins. Structural analogs based on this backbone have been profiled for anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and CNS-related activity, nudging researchers to keep this compound on their radar, even as they chase more headline-grabbing molecules. Collaborative publication trends suggest the future will see this molecule not fade into the background, but serve as a launch pad for entirely new compound classes.
Chemists understand that new uses bring new risks, so ongoing toxicity research has become standard practice. Acute toxicity data is limited but reassuring for lower exposures, yet attention turns to chronic exposure, metabolic breakdown products, and the likelihood of bioaccumulation. It’s tempting to treat each aromatic amide as a minor tweak of its precursors, but metabolism studies often show new and sometimes unexpected biotransformations. For 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide, animal model screening and cell assays play central roles in clearing hurdles before broader applications, especially in pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemistry. The safety net that regulatory agencies provide depends on these studies delivering thorough, transparent results. Researchers who gloss over these steps risk setbacks down the road, particularly as supply chains globalize and standards differ between regions.
Looking ahead, 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide will likely remain both a workhorse and a springboard for innovation. Structural modifications will keep unlocking new applications, especially as drug and material discovery trends shift toward modular, easily modified backbones. Automation in synthesis and purification, plus better predictive chemistry, could drop costs and accelerate iteration cycles. Environmental and biocompatibility requirements, growing stricter in every sector, nudge chemists to further map out degradation products and streamline greener processes. Success will hinge on whether researchers continue to share negative results and subtle pitfalls along with their big wins, feeding back into a collective knowledge base. For as long as discovery science depends on adaptable scaffolds, compounds like 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide will keep shaping the edges of progress, even if they never take a starring role.
4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide may not be a household name, but it plays a subtle and meaningful role in pharmaceutical development and chemical research. Its structure, a simple amide with a hydroxyphenyl group, lets chemists tweak and develop all sorts of new compounds, many of them targeting diseases that have frustrated doctors for years.
Most attention lands on 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide because of its place as a building block in medicinal chemistry. It contributes to the synthesis of substances that target brain health and neurological disease. Research teams constantly search for new compounds with better effects or fewer side effects, and this molecule forms a foundation for that work. It shows up in research about neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, where small changes in a drug's chemistry make a difference in how safe or effective a treatment can be.
Lab scientists depend on molecules like 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide to branch out and create new chemical entities. Each time a molecule like this one enters a synthetic pathway, it opens new directions for potential therapies. It’s like the difference between having a full set of cooking spices as opposed to just salt and pepper. The broader the toolkit, the more approaches chemists try when aiming for a breakthrough drug. This isn’t limited to one disease, either—investigators look at these derivatives for inflammation, certain types of cancer, and even rare metabolic disorders.
Past experience in the research lab showed me how much of modern drug discovery turns on small, underappreciated ingredients. The focus often sits on final, market-ready drugs, but these don’t happen without years spent exploring what combinations of atoms work best. The process alone creates opportunities for graduate students and researchers to gain hands-on experience, which evolves into better science all around. In a sense, 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide and its cousins work behind the scenes, paving the way for tomorrow’s therapies.
One challenge with these research chemicals comes from sourcing and safety. Not every supplier offers consistent quality, and a contaminated batch wastes valuable resources and time. Labs must watch out for regulatory restrictions, especially for compounds with possible activity in the human body. Transparency about production methods, clean documentation, and third-party lab tests give teams more confidence and fewer setbacks. Regular audits and open data-sharing help plug information gaps that slow scientific progress.
Drawing from my own experience, the most progress comes when scientists, suppliers, and regulators keep communication open. Investing in more accessible information about chemicals like 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide can shorten the time from research to clinical trial. Industry-wide digital libraries listing available compounds, safety data, and supplier reliability help cut through the noise. Putting effort into this backbone of research means more innovation, safer new drugs, and—most of all—better outcomes for patients.
Anyone who has spent time in a laboratory knows there’s nothing routine about handling chemicals, no matter how ordinary they seem. I still remember my early days in the lab, thinking “as long as I keep my goggles on, I’m good.” That idea disappeared the first time a colleague suffered a minor chemical burn. You can’t treat any compound, including 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide, with anything less than total respect.
Gloves, goggles, and lab coats—there’s a reason these basics show up in every safety manual. Nitrile gloves provide the barrier needed for 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide, since this compound can irritate your skin on contact. Eye protection is equally important. Lab accidents with splashes happen much faster than you expect, especially with liquid handling. Respirator use sometimes comes up if you’re working with powders or generating dust. In my experience, skipping this step always leads to regret. The best labs I’ve seen keep side-shielded safety glasses or full face shields within reach.
Even if you do not spot any fumes rising from the material, 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide must be weighed and manipulated within a chemical fume hood. Proper air circulation strips away vapors you might not see or smell. At institutions serious about safety, airflow monitors sit in plain view. If the airflow falters, work stops until it’s fixed. Sticking to this rule cuts down risks that quietly build up during a busy day.
Trust me, short-cuts tend to catch up sooner or later. Keeping benchtops clear, lab notebooks closed, and chemicals capped doesn’t sound glamorous, but it prevents accidents. Spills become easier to clean when surfaces stay organized. Proper labeling never feels urgent—until a co-worker nearly grabs the wrong bottle in a hurry. I’ve seen even experienced researchers make that mistake. Labeled bottles, with hazard notes if necessary, keep confusion in check.
4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide does best in tightly sealed containers, stored at room temperature away from sunlight and heat. Fluctuating temperatures can compromise purity. Always keep incompatible compounds in separate storage units. Review the SDS for incompatibilities; that sheet stores wisdom collected over years of incidents, not just legal fine print. Only trained staff should access chemical storerooms, and regular inventory checks spot issues before they escalate.
No matter how careful you are, eventually something spills. Labs with the best track records drill their team on spill response. For small spills, use absorbent material while wearing full protective gear. Dispose of cleanup waste as hazardous material, not regular trash. Rapid reporting protects everyone. Delays let exposure multiply, as vapors circulate and surfaces become risks for others.
The real difference in chemical safety comes from ongoing education. Practice, not just paperwork, builds competence. Find opportunities for refresher sessions whenever possible. If you forget a procedure, ask a supervisor or a more experienced colleague. Humility saves more lives than bravado ever could, especially with chemicals that seem unthreatening.
Safety is a habit built step by step, reinforced by experience, mistakes, and the example set by mentors. 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide poses fewer hazards than some industrial chemicals, but cutting corners leads to preventable injuries and long-term health consequences. Investing time in proper handling protects your team, your research, and your health—believe me, nothing matters more when you’re staring at a bottle on your own bench.
The name “4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide” might sound complicated, but there’s a simple story behind each part. If you picture a benzene ring as a hexagonal backbone of aromatic chemistry, the “4-hydroxy” means a hydroxy group (-OH) connects to the fourth carbon. On that same ring, a propanamide group attaches through a three-carbon chain to the amide functional group (-CONH2). Visually, it’s like seeing a hydroxy group and an amide group living on opposite sides of a compact, six-carbon playground.
This structure isn’t an academic curiosity. I learned in organic lab that the placement of just one group, like this hydroxy, can totally change how a compound behaves. The hydroxy group on the ring encourages hydrogen bonding, which means molecules attract each other more, making it easier to dissolve the compound in water or alcohol. On the other end, the amide group influences reactivity, not only allowing the compound to form strong bonds with other molecules but also affecting how enzymes in the body process it. In medicinal chemistry, even small changes on a benzene ring often lead to new effects—sometimes beneficial, sometimes harmful—by altering the way a drug fits into biological pathways.
Phenolic compounds—those containing a benzene ring with an -OH group—show up often in pharmaceuticals and dyes. The hydroxy group often brings antioxidant properties, something I’ve seen in studies about natural supplements and their supposed ability to reduce oxidative stress. Amides, meanwhile, often boost stability inside living bodies, ensuring that the drug reaches its intended target intact. In daily work, this type of structure pops up when discussing over-the-counter pain medications, skin creams, and other health products. For anyone who’s ever looked at the ingredient label on a pain reliever and wondered about the long, complex names, it’s structures like this that make up those drugs.
Molecules like this can turn up challenges in synthesis. Labs try to produce pure samples, but it takes careful reaction planning to connect the hydroxy, aromatic ring, and amide group just right. Synthetic organic chemistry isn’t just pressing a few buttons; it’s working with solvents, reagents, and glassware to bring the right atoms together. I’ve watched students struggle when that hydroxy group doesn’t attach where they planned, or when too much heat tears the amide bond apart. These are practical hurdles that require skill, time, and some trial and error. In drug manufacturing, cost and waste matter, so clever chemists keep inventing faster, safer routes to these compounds.
Recognizing a molecule’s structure is a key to discovering what it might do, or how it could help. By understanding 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide’s layout—where each group sits, how they interact—we can design better medicines, improve quality of life, and even protect against disease. Chemistry might look intimidating on the page, but at heart, it’s about making a difference in people’s lives, one molecule at a time.
Anyone who’s spent time in a lab knows that chemical storage isn’t just about keeping bottles upright. I recall my first serious lab mishap involved not double-checking labels. A bottle sweated condensation right onto a notebook page and, thankfully, we caught it before it ruined months of work. Chemicals like 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide, though not the most volatile, deserve every bit of respect you’d give other active compounds. Exposure to moisture, light, or heat can alter its chemical profile. Unwanted reactions or degraded samples will cost more than time—sometimes, that’s a hit to credibility and safety.
Glass containers with sturdy, airtight seals work best. Some plastics breathe and can let in traces of air or water vapor. In shared spaces, mislabeled or unsealed bottles spell trouble. On the shelf, temperature control makes all the difference. Fluctuations invite condensation, so I always keep chemicals away from windows, radiators, or vents. A cool, dry cupboard or a dedicated chemical refrigerator gives the kind of stability you can rely on.
If you’ve ever opened an old reagent jar and caught that unfamiliar whiff, chances are the chemical’s taken on a new form. I make a habit of using desiccant packs. Silica gel packets aren’t glamorous, but they pull moisture right out of the air, giving an extra layer of protection. It may seem like overkill for one small substance, but all it takes is a rainy weekend for humidity to creep in. Peace of mind is worth a few extra silica packets.
Labelling isn’t just about names and dates. I add hazard warnings, concentration notes, and storage reminders on each bottle. Whether you’re in academia or industry, clear labeling keeps everyone on the same page. In my own routine, I work from a logbook—or, for larger scales, an electronic system. Each entry tracks the amount, the supplier, and any changes in appearance over time. If someone else takes over, they know exactly what’s going on at a glance.
Exposure and spills happen, but preparation cuts risk. Heavy gloves and goggles should always be part of the process. Storing chemicals together without regard for reactivity can lead to disasters. I separate acids, bases, organic solvents, and specialized compounds into clearly marked cabinets. This habit keeps cross-contamination out, safeguarding each substance and everyone involved.
Expired chemicals often turn up in forgotten corners. I’ve cleaned out enough old labs to know that lazy storage habits come back to bite. 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide, like many organics, loses potency over time and can pose risks if decomposition products build up. Scheduled reviews help tremendously. Every few months, audit inventory for signs of spoilage or leaks. Safe disposal beats guessing at a compromised sample.
It’s easy to put chemical storage on autopilot, but new team members arrive and procedures evolve. Regular training keeps best practices fresh. Updates on storage protocols, hazard signals, or emergency routines allow everyone to handle 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide with confidence. Safe handling builds trust, both within the team and in the quality of every experiment or product that leaves the lab.
Finding a reliable source for specialty compounds requires more than a quick internet search. Scientists searching for 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide will notice that this compound doesn’t show up on every chemicals wholesaler’s site. That triggers frustration. Teams with research budgets get held up by slow procurement or regulatory obstacles, straining deadlines and sometimes derailing entire projects.
I’ve worked in research settings and know the headache when one obscure building block puts everything on pause. 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide is not a common name in catalogs compared to the building blocks you’d find in undergraduate chemistry. Suppliers watch the movement of novel intermediates like this. Manufacturers look to legal databases and reach out to regulatory bodies before offering certain chemicals to customers.
Governments do more checks for compounds that could turn up in pharmaceuticals. 4-Hydroxyphenylpropanamide isn’t flagged as a narcotic or hazardous, but the oversight of chemical controls gets tighter each year, especially in the United States and Europe. Researchers with legitimate academic projects still face paperwork and sometimes long approval timelines. Small startups and university labs fall behind when they don’t have compliance staff.
Direct import from overseas suppliers remains an option for some, but global logistics after the pandemic slowed shipping and complicated documentation. Universities that once billed large domestic distributors now consider smaller specialty importers who can handle customs and offer documents showing purity, batch records, and safety data sheets. Without the right paperwork, even trace quantities could sit in customs purgatory or get rejected entirely.
Over the past decade, digital exchanges and B2B marketplaces designed for lab chemicals make it easier to compare suppliers. These services offer transparency on inventory, shipping timelines, and batch testing. Still, many smaller providers operate in gray zones—students and faculty end up in phone-tag for weeks over certificates and paperwork. Crowdsourced review communities pop up for sharing which vendors follow through.
Larger suppliers earn trust through consistency. A peer-reviewed paper from the American Chemical Society found that chemicals sourced from formally accredited vendors hold up in reproducibility studies better than gray-market sources or small-scale batch syntheses. This is critical. Skipping quality controls hurts research conclusions, but the cost and delay of sourcing obscure intermediates can push researchers toward shortcuts.
So, beyond catching a supplier on Alibaba or a digital import catalog, labs have to weigh the risk of downtime, cost, and research integrity against the pressure to deliver results. The willingness to pay a premium or wait weeks only makes sense with clear documentation and an honest chain of custody. Some labs even pool orders to hit minimum purchase amounts, spreading shipping fees and verifying documentation together.
If our current experience says anything, it’s that a simple reaction doesn’t count for much if sourcing blocks progress. Collaboration between credible distributors, improved chemical marketplace technology, and better training on compliance could make research smoother. For innovation to thrive, researchers need fewer roadblocks between concept and experiment.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | 3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)propanamide |
| Other names |
4-Hydroxy-3-phenylpropanamide 3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)propanamide |
| Pronunciation | /ˌfɔːr haɪˌdrɒksɪˌfiːnɪlˌprəʊpəˈnæmɪd/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 621-42-1 |
| 3D model (JSmol) | `3D structure;JSmol;CC(C1=CC=C(C=C1)O)C(=O)N` |
| Beilstein Reference | 2226705 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:167712 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL133485 |
| ChemSpider | 174482 |
| DrugBank | DB08399 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.104.445 |
| EC Number | 3.4.1.162 |
| Gmelin Reference | 77567 |
| KEGG | C12303 |
| MeSH | D013099 |
| PubChem CID | 220409 |
| RTECS number | YD0525000 |
| UNII | 2YHB61741Y |
| UN number | NA |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C9H11NO2 |
| Molar mass | 151.18 g/mol |
| Appearance | White to off-white solid |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 1.16 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | soluble |
| log P | 0.21 |
| Vapor pressure | 1.89E-4 mmHg at 25°C |
| Acidity (pKa) | 9.7 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 13.96 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -61.98 × 10^-6 cm³/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.618 |
| Viscosity | Viscous liquid |
| Dipole moment | 2.72 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 274.0 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -261.4 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -3924.0 kJ/mol |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | N02BX08 |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Hazardous if swallowed, causes skin and eye irritation, may cause respiratory irritation. |
| GHS labelling | GHS07, GHS08 |
| Pictograms | GHS07 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H319: Causes serious eye irritation. |
| Precautionary statements | Precautionary statements: "P264, P280, P302+P352, P305+P351+P338, P310 |
| Flash point | 154°C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD₅₀ (oral, rat): 1960 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): 1000 mg/kg (rat, oral) |
| PEL (Permissible) | Not established |
| REL (Recommended) | 1 mg/m³ |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Tyrosol 4-Hydroxyphenylpropionic acid 4-Hydroxyphenylacetamide Dopamine Paracetamol |
