CAS: 3485-05-0

2-[(2-Methoxyethyl)amino]ethanol is an uncoupled hydrolysis product of the herbicide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. 2-[(2-Methoxyethyl)amino]ethanol reacts with nucleophiles (e.g., sulfur, phosphorus) to form diesters or amides. The rate of this reaction is enhanced by intramolecular reactions and correlated with the reactivity of the nucleophile. The mechanism of this reaction is not well understood but may involve a nucleophilic attack by a water molecule on the electrophilic carbonyl carbon followed by a beta elimination process to produce an oxirane ring.