What Is 917342-29-1 trans 2-{1-[4-n-tert-butoxycarbonyl-amino]-cyclohexyl}ethanol? Properties, Uses, and Handling

If you have searched for CAS 917342-29-1 trans 2-1-[4-n-tert-butoxycarbonyl-amino]-cyclohexylethanol, you are likely evaluating a specialized chemical intermediate rather than browsing a general catalog. This compound is often written more compactly as trans-2-[1-(Boc-amino)cyclohexyl]ethanol. This compound matters because it combines a protected amine, a cyclohexyl ring, and an alcohol group in one building block. Those three features make it useful in multi-step synthesis, especially in drug discovery and medicinal chemistry programs.

The challenge is that a bare supplier listing tells you little about how to handle, store, or evaluate this intermediate. You need practical context: why the BOC group is there, how the trans geometry can affect your reaction, and what to check before you commit to a supplier. This guide explains those points in plain language and ends with a clear sourcing checklist.

Key Takeaways:

• CAS 917342-29-1 is a BOC-protected trans-cyclohexyl aminoalcohol used as a synthesis intermediate.
• The BOC group protects the amine during reactions and is removed later under controlled acidic conditions.
• Storage and handling should focus on protecting purity, especially if the material is sensitive to moisture or temperature.
• Before ordering, review COA, NMR, and HPLC data and ask specific questions about batch consistency.
• A one-page handling and supplier evaluation checklist is available at the end of this guide.

What Is 917342-29-1 trans 2-1-[4-n-tert-butoxycarbonyl-amino]-cyclohexylethanol?

This compound is an organic intermediate built around a cyclohexane ring. The cyclohexyl core carries two functional groups: a BOC-protected amino group and a hydroxyethyl side chain. The “trans” designation means the amino group and the ethanol-containing substituent occupy opposite sides of the cyclohexane ring.

The BOC group, or tert-butoxycarbonyl protecting group, is one of the most common amine protectors in organic synthesis. It temporarily blocks the amine from reacting while you modify other parts of the molecule. Later, you remove it under acidic conditions to expose the free amine for the next step.

The trans geometry gives this intermediate a defined three-dimensional shape. In chiral cyclohexyl intermediates, that spatial arrangement can influence how the molecule docks with a biological target or how it behaves in a catalytic reaction. Researchers often prioritize a specific stereoisomer because even small geometry changes can alter downstream results.

In short, this CAS number represents a protected aminoalcohol scaffold with a defined ring geometry. It is not a final pharmaceutical ingredient. It is a tool you use to build more complex molecules in a controlled way.

The Chemical Identity Behind the CAS Number

CAS 917342-29-1 specifically identifies trans-2-[1-(Boc-amino)cyclohexyl]ethanol. The molecular formula and exact molecular weight should always be confirmed against the supplier's certificate of analysis, but the structure itself is what defines the compound.

The name breaks down like this:

• Cyclohexyl refers to the six-membered saturated carbon ring.
• Boc-amino indicates the amine attached to the ring is protected with a tert-butoxycarbonyl group.
• Ethanol indicates a two-carbon chain ending in a hydroxyl group.
• Trans describes the relative orientation of the ring substituents.

This structure places the molecule within the larger family of aminoalcohol building blocks used in drug discovery intermediates. The alcohol group offers a synthetic handle for further functionalization such as esterification, oxidation, or coupling. The protected amine remains latent until you choose to reveal it.

A practical note on naming: you will sometimes see this compound listed under a slightly different IUPAC-style string or abbreviated formula. Do not assume all suppliers describe it identically. Always verify the CAS number and the trans stereochemistry together. The CAS number points you to the correct substance, but the descriptor tells you which geometric form you are actually buying. This small check avoids a common sourcing error where the CAS number is correct but the stereochemistry is not what your synthetic route requires.

Why the BOC-Protected Cyclohexyl Backbone Matters

The BOC-protected cyclohexyl backbone solves a practical problem: free amines are often too reactive or too polar for many reaction conditions. By keeping the amine protected, you can run reactions that would otherwise fail or produce unwanted side products.

The reason BOC protection is so widely used goes beyond simple reactivity. A free primary amine can participate in unwanted nucleophilic attacks, form salts with acidic reagents, or create polar byproducts that complicate your workup. The tert-butoxycarbonyl group neutralizes those risks by converting the amine into a relatively inert carbamate. This allows you to run esterification or oxidation at the hydroxyl site without worrying about the amine competing. The trade-off is that deprotection later requires acidic conditions, but that step is generally predictable and well-precedented.

The cyclohexane ring also adds rigidity compared to an open-chain aminoalcohol. That rigidity can help control molecular shape during synthesis, which is valuable when you are optimizing a lead compound in a medicinal chemistry program. The protected amino group and the free hydroxyl group give you two distinct synthetic handles that can be addressed selectively under the right conditions.

For sourcing decisions, this means you should pay attention not only to purity percentage but also to the stereochemical integrity of the trans isomer. A supplier should be able to document that the material is the trans form, not a mixture where the cis isomer is present at meaningful levels.

Physical and Chemical Properties You Need to Review

Before you order or handle this intermediate, review the basic physical and chemical parameters. These details affect storage, shipping, and how you set up your first reaction.

Typical suppliers report this compound as a solid or viscous semi-solid depending on batch and storage history. This form variability is common for cyclohexyl-containing intermediates because small differences in residual solvent or storage temperature can shift the physical appearance. The exact form can shift with temperature and residual solvent content, so confirm the current appearance with the supplier if it matters for your handling workflow. Purity is usually reported by HPLC, often in the range of 95% to 98% or higher for research-grade material. Always check the actual COA rather than relying on a catalog range.

Molecular weight and formula should match the structure. Discrepancies in these basic values can be an early red flag that the documentation does not match the labeled substance. If you receive a COA with a different molecular formula than expected, contact the supplier before using the material.

Form, Solubility, and Molecular Basics

The free hydroxyl group gives this compound some polarity, while the cyclohexyl ring and BOC group add hydrophobic character. As a result, the compound often dissolves well in common organic solvents such as dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, and dimethyl sulfoxide. Water solubility is generally limited because of the lipophilic ring and protecting group.

This solubility profile has a practical consequence: if you try to run a reaction in a highly polar or aqueous solvent system, you may see the compound remain as a separate phase or oil out. That is not necessarily a purity problem; it is a mismatch between the solvent polarity and the compound's mixed hydrophobic-hydrophilic character. Choosing a solvent like dichloromethane or THF usually avoids this issue for reactions at the hydroxyl group.

For practical lab work, test a small amount in your intended reaction solvent before running a full-scale experiment. Solubility can vary between batches, especially if the material has absorbed moisture or if residual solvents remain.

Key molecular details to confirm include:

• Molecular formula
• Molecular weight
• CAS number match
• Stereochemical descriptor (trans)
• Purity method and result

Keep these values in your lab notebook or electronic inventory system alongside the supplier batch number. That practice simplifies troubleshooting if a reaction behaves unexpectedly.

Storage Temperature and Light Sensitivity

Most suppliers recommend storing this type of BOC-protected aminoalcohol in a cool, dry place. Refrigerated storage is common, with typical guidance ranging from 2–8 °C for routine research use. Some suppliers may recommend freezing at −20 °C if you plan to store the material for an extended period.

The reason behind cold storage is not only about the BOC group. Moisture ingress and slow oxidative changes at the hydroxyl group can occur over time, especially if the container is opened frequently. Cool storage slows those processes. However, cold storage also brings a hidden risk: condensation. If you take a cold container out to ambient air and open it immediately, atmospheric moisture can condense inside and accelerate degradation. Let the sealed container reach room temperature before opening, or aliquot the material under controlled conditions if your lab handles many moisture-sensitive intermediates.

The BOC group is generally stable at ambient temperature for short periods, but prolonged heat or repeated temperature cycles can accelerate decomposition. Moisture can also degrade performance over time, especially if the container is left open in humid air. Keep the material in a tightly sealed container and minimize exposure during weighing.

Protect the compound from direct light as a standard precaution. While not every batch is confirmed as highly light-sensitive, dark or amber containers reduce unnecessary risk. If your supplier ships the product in clear glass, transfer it to an amber vial if you anticipate long-term storage.

How This Intermediate Fits into Synthesis Workflows

This compound is not usually a final target. It is an intermediate that gives you controlled access to an aminoalcohol motif. Understanding when the BOC group stays intact and when it comes off will help you plan your synthesis.

The BOC protecting group is stable under many basic and nucleophilic conditions, which is why it is so widely used. You can perform reactions at the hydroxyl group while the amine remains protected. Then, at the chosen step, you remove the BOC group with acid to reveal the free amine.

A typical worker scenario helps illustrate this workflow. Imagine you are building a small library of amide derivatives for a medicinal chemistry optimization project. You need a cyclohexyl spacer with a free amine on one side and a functionalized side chain on the other. This intermediate gives you the free hydroxyl for the first derivatization step. After you complete that step and purify your product, you deprotect the BOC amine and couple the resulting primary amine to your desired acid or electrophile. That sequence would be difficult with a free amine present from the start, because the amine itself would compete in the first coupling step.

The trans-cyclohexyl geometry also matters in synthesis. The fixed orientation of the substituents can affect how the intermediate reacts with bulky reagents or how the final product interacts with chiral environments. If your downstream target requires a specific stereochemistry, confirm that the supplier's material matches the trans specification before scaling up.

BOC Protection and Deprotection Considerations

The tert-butoxycarbonyl protecting group is designed for controlled removal. Deprotection typically uses acidic conditions, such as trifluoroacetic acid in dichloromethane or hydrochloric acid in a suitable solvent. The exact conditions depend on the stability of the rest of your molecule.

During carbamate deprotection, the BOC group releases tert-butyl intermediates and carbon dioxide. You should run the reaction with adequate ventilation and use a scrubber or trap if your setup requires it. The free amine product is often isolated as a salt, which can simplify purification and improve stability.

When planning deprotection, consider what other functional groups are present. The unprotected hydroxyl group in this intermediate can remain intact under many BOC removal conditions, but it can also participate in side reactions if you use strongly acidic or dehydrating conditions for extended periods. If your downstream route involves acid-sensitive groups elsewhere in the molecule, test the deprotection on a small portion first and monitor closely.

A common error is to assume that because BOC deprotection is well-known, every acid system works equally well for every substrate. In practice, the trans-cyclohexyl environment can slow or alter the deprotection profile slightly compared to open-chain BOC amines. Monitor your reaction by LCMS or TLC before committing to workup; do not simply follow a published time and temperature and expect identical results.

Common Reaction Roles as an Aminoalcohol Building Block

The aminoalcohol building block motif appears in many biologically active molecules and synthetic intermediates. In this compound, the hydroxyl group offers a convenient site for ester formation, ether synthesis, or oxidation to a carbonyl. The protected amine remains available for deprotection and subsequent coupling.

Typical uses include:

• Preparing amine-containing fragments for medicinal chemistry libraries
• Building constrained cyclohexyl scaffolds for structure-activity studies
• Generating intermediates for further ring functionalization
• Exploring stereochemical effects in receptor or enzyme binding assays

Because the trans configuration locks the relative positions of the substituents, this compound can help you probe how spatial arrangement affects biological activity or chemical reactivity. That is a common reason researchers choose this specific CAS-listed intermediate rather than a more flexible open-chain alternative.

Safe Handling and Storage: A Practical Checklist

Handle this compound as a laboratory chemical, not as a consumer product. Standard chemical hygiene practices apply. The main goals are to protect yourself, avoid contamination, and preserve the material's quality for future reactions.

Use the same precautions you would for any research intermediate of unknown or limited toxicological profile. That means avoiding skin contact, avoiding inhalation of dust or vapors, and keeping the work area clean.

The chemical safety data sheets from your supplier are your primary reference. Read them before you handle the material. If the SDS is missing or incomplete, ask the supplier for it before proceeding.

Personal Protection and Ventilation

Wear nitrile gloves, a lab coat, and safety glasses when handling this intermediate. If you are weighing a fine powder, a dust mask or respirator may be appropriate depending on your institution's exposure control plan.

Work in a fume hood whenever you open the container, weigh the solid, or run reactions involving this compound. Good ventilation reduces the chance of inhaling fine particles or any volatile residual solvents. If you are handling only small research quantities, normal glove and hood practice is usually sufficient. For larger amounts, follow your organization's chemical hygiene procedures.

A scene many bench chemists recognize: you open a new vial in the fume hood, and a fine puff of powder escapes as the cap releases pressure. That puff is not just a nuisance; it is a reminder that some material can become airborne easily. Opening containers slowly and pointing the cap away from your face reduces this exposure. Weighing in a closed balance or hood also keeps stray particles from settling on nearby surfaces.

Container, Temperature, and Light Guidance

Store the compound in a tightly sealed container made of glass or another compatible material. Keep the container under an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen or argon if your lab routinely uses that practice for moisture-sensitive intermediates.

Recommended storage conditions often include:

• Cool or refrigerated temperature, commonly 2–8 °C
• Dry environment
• Protection from direct light
• Tightly closed cap after each use

Avoid repeated warming and cooling cycles if you store the material in a freezer. Condensation can introduce moisture when the container is opened. For routine use, it may be more practical to keep a small working amount at the recommended cool temperature and store the bulk reserve under colder conditions.

One practical setup is to aliquot the material into a few small vials once you receive it. Use one vial for daily work and keep the rest sealed and stored cold. This limits the number of times the main batch is exposed to air and moisture. Label each aliquot with the batch number and storage date. If a reaction fails later, that label helps you identify whether a specific aliquot was the source.

How to Evaluate Suppliers and Quality Documents

Not all supplier listings for CAS 917342-29-1 are equal. The same CAS number can appear with different purity claims, packaging options, and documentation quality. Your job is to confirm that the material you receive matches what the supplier describes.

Start by reviewing the certificate of analysis, or COA. A complete COA should list the batch number, test methods, specification limits, and actual results. If a supplier only provides a generic product specification and not a batch-specific COA, ask whether a COA is available before you commit.

The documentation should match the structure you expect. Confirm the CAS number, molecular formula, molecular weight, and stereochemical descriptor on every page. Small documentation errors can signal larger quality control problems.

A common error among first-time buyers is to focus only on the purity percentage and ignore the rest of the COA. Purity is important, but a 98% HPLC result means little if the method cannot distinguish trans from cis isomers or if the water content is high enough to affect your stoichiometry. Review the full document, not just the number at the top.

Reading COA, NMR, and HPLC Data

The COA typically reports purity from HPLC, and sometimes additional data from NMR. When reviewing HPLC results, check the method, the column type, and the detection wavelength. A purity number without method context is less informative.

For NMR documentation, look for a spectrum that matches the expected structure. Key features to expect include signals for the BOC tert-butyl group, the cyclohexyl protons, and the ethanol side chain. If the supplier provides only a text summary and no spectrum, request the actual data before making a final decision.

Questions to ask about analytical data:

• Is the HPLC method suitable for this compound?
• Does the NMR indicate the expected trans geometry?
• Is the water content or residual solvent level reported?
• Is the COA batch-specific or just a generic document?

Another common error is to accept an NMR spectrum that shows the right main peaks but also contains unexplained small signals. Those small signals can indicate residual solvent, a minor isomer, or a synthetic impurity. Ask the supplier what those signals represent. A supplier with strong quality control should be able to explain them or provide a more resolved spectrum. If the answer is vague, consider that as a sign to dig deeper before purchasing.

A supplier that cannot provide clear answers may still be legitimate, but you have less evidence to support a purchase. For critical synthesis work, complete documentation is worth the extra effort.

Questions to Ask Before You Request a Sample

Before requesting a sample or placing an order, prepare a short list of questions. This step saves time and reduces the chance of ordering the wrong material.

Ask about the stereochemical purity, not just chemical purity. A material may be 98% pure by HPLC but still contain a meaningful amount of the cis isomer if the separation method does not resolve the two forms well.

Also ask about packaging and shipping conditions. If the supplier ships at ambient temperature and you plan to store at −20 °C, that is usually acceptable for a short transit period. However, if the product requires cold chain storage, a long ambient shipment could affect quality. Some suppliers use cold packs or insulated boxes for temperature-sensitive intermediates. Confirm the expected delivery time and storage instructions on arrival.

A real-world scenario helps here: suppose you order two small batches from different suppliers. Both arrive with a COA claiming 97% purity. One COA includes a clean HPLC trace and an NMR spectrum with the trans geometry clearly assigned. The other has only a generic specification and no batch-specific data. Even if both materials perform equally well in your first test, the first supplier gives you far more confidence for repeat purchases and for troubleshooting if something goes wrong. That difference in documentation quality often becomes the deciding factor in a sourcing decision.

Red flags in supplier documentation include missing CAS numbers, vague purity claims without methods, poorly labeled spectral data, and COAs that look identical across many unrelated products. Those signs do not always mean the material is bad, but they do mean you should ask more questions before purchasing.

Your Next Step: Turning This Guide into a Sourcing Decision

You now have the core information needed to evaluate CAS 917342-29-1 with confidence. The key points are simple: confirm the trans stereochemistry, review the BOC-protection chemistry in your planned route, store the material properly, and demand clear analytical documentation.

The decision criteria should include structural identity, stereochemical integrity, purity method, storage guidance, and supplier responsiveness. If a supplier meets those criteria and provides a batch-specific COA with credible NMR and HPLC data, you are in a stronger position to order.

The fastest way to put this guide into practice is to use a structured checklist while you contact suppliers. That way, you do not rely on memory or get distracted by catalog marketing language.

Download the one-page handling and supplier evaluation checklist for this intermediate. It summarizes the key questions, storage notes, and documentation checks covered in this guide so you can keep them at hand during supplier conversations and material receipt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CAS 917342-29-1 used for in organic synthesis?

It is used as a BOC-protected trans-cyclohexyl aminoalcohol building block for medicinal chemistry and drug discovery intermediates. The free hydroxyl group and protected amine provide two selective synthetic handles. It is not a final pharmaceutical ingredient, but a tool for building more complex molecules.

How should I store trans 2-1-[4-n-tert-butoxycarbonyl-amino]-cyclohexylethanol?

Store it in a tightly sealed container under cool, dry conditions, commonly at 2–8°C; long-term storage may use −20°C. Let cold containers reach room temperature before opening to avoid condensation, and protect the material from direct light and moisture.

What does BOC-protected mean for CAS 917342-29-1?

BOC protection temporarily blocks the amine from reacting while other parts of the molecule are modified. The tert-butoxycarbonyl group is stable under many basic and nucleophilic conditions, then removed later under controlled acidic conditions to expose the free amine.

Why is the trans configuration important when buying this cyclohexyl intermediate?

The trans configuration means the amino group and the ethanol-containing substituent occupy opposite sides of the cyclohexane ring. This fixed geometry can affect chemical reactivity, chiral interactions, and biological target binding. You should confirm that the supplier provides the trans isomer rather than a mixture containing meaningful levels of the cis form.

What documents should I check before purchasing CAS 917342-29-1?

Request a batch-specific certificate of analysis with HPLC purity, an NMR spectrum confirming the structure and trans geometry, and information on water content or residual solvents. Also confirm the CAS number, molecular formula, and shipping conditions before placing an order.