Choline bitartrate is an organic compound with the chemical formula [(CH3)3NCH2CH2OH]+HOOC−CH(OH)−CH(OH)−COO. It is a white crystalline powder with an acid taste.[1] It is hygroscopic when exposed to air.[1] Modern texts refer to the choline salt of the natural form of tartaric acid, that is, the salt called choline dextrobitartrate, choline (2R,3R)-bitartrate or choline L-(+)-bitartrate.

Choline (2R,3R)-bitartrate
Choline (2R,3R)-bitartrate
Names
IUPAC name
Choline (2R,3R)-bitartrate
Systematic IUPAC name
(2-Hydroxyethyl)trimethylaminium hydrogen (2R,3R)-tartrate[2]
Other names
  • Choline hydrogen L-(+)-tartrate[1]
  • Choline (2R,3R)-tartrate (1:1)[1]
  • (2-Hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium hydrogen (2R,3R)-tartrate[1]
  • (2-Hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium L-(+)-bitartrate
  • (2-Hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium (2R,3R)-bitartrate
  • (2-Hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium L-(+)-tartrate salt (1:1)[1]
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ECHA InfoCard 100.001.604 Edit this at Wikidata
UNII
  • [1]: InChI=1S/C5H14NO.C4H6O6/c1-6(2,3)4-5-7;5-1(3(7)8)2(6)4(9)10/h7H,4-5H2,1-3H3;1-2,5-6H,(H,7,8)(H,9,10)/q+1;/p-1/t;1-,2-/m.1/s1
    Key: QWJSAWXRUVVRLH-LREBCSMRSA-M
  • Non-isomeric: C[N+](C)(C)CCO.C(C(C(=O)[O-])O)(C(=O)O)O
  • Isomeric: C[N+](C)(C)CCO.[C@@H]([C@H](C(=O)[O-])O)(C(=O)O)O
Properties
C9H19NO7
Molar mass 253.251 g·mol−1
Appearance White crystalline powder[1][2]
Odor Odorless or faint trimethylamine-like odor[1]
Melting point 147–153 °C (297–307 °F; 420–426 K)[1][2]
Solubility Water (slightly), ethanol (slightly), DMSO (slightly), methanol (slightly, when heated); insoluble in diethyl ether, chloroform and benzene[1][2]
Structure
Tetrahedral molecular geometry at the nitrogen atom
Hazards
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
200 to 400 grams (as choline, human, estimated)[1]
Related compounds
Other anions
Other cations
N,N-Dimethylethanolamine bitartrate
Related compounds
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Chemistry

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Choline bitartrate is a choline salt of tartaric acid. Choline bitartrate contains quaternary ammonium cations ((2-hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium [(CH3)3NCH2CH2OH]+) and bitartrate anions (HOOC−CH(OH)−CH(OH)−COO). Quaternary ammonium cation is a cation in which all four hydrogen atoms of ammonium are replaced with organyl groups.[3] In the choline cation, the four substituents of ammonium are three methyl groups (−CH3) and one 2-hydroxyethyl group (−CH2CH2OH). The bitartrate anion is chiral (there are left, right and meso forms of bitartrate, see tartaric acid).

Production

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Choline bitartrate can be produced by the chemical reaction of trimethylamine with ethylene oxide and water, followed by reaction with tartaric acid.[1]

N(CH3)3 + CH2CH2O + H2O → [(CH3)3NCH2CH2OH]+OH [(CH3)3NCH2CH2OH]+OH + C4H6O6 → [(CH3)3NCH2CH2OH]+C4H5O6 + H2O

Uses

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Choline bitartrate is used as a dietary supplement, a food additive, a nutrient and as a lipotropic compound.[1][4] It is also used as a medication against bipolar disorder and mania (see: choline).[1] Certain conducted double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of the effects of choline bitartrate treatment against Alzheimer-type dementias suggest improvement in some areas of patients' cognitive performance.[5]

Safety

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Choline bitartrate is flammable. When burned, choline bitartrate may release toxic gases, like carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2). May react violently with strong oxidizing agents.[2][6][7]

The toxicity of this compound is similar to toxicity of choline itself, which is fairly low, and it is used as a dietary supplement. Oral LD50 value for a human is estimated to be 200 to 400 grams (as choline). Nevertheless, choline bitartrate can be harmful, if absorbed through skin. It may cause skin, eye and respiratory system irritation. May cause gastrointestinal system irritation as well. If swallowed in high doses, may cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and a rotten fish-like body smell resulting from the excretion of trimethylamine from the body (trimethylamine is a choline metabolite). There are reports of depression or increased symptoms of it in patients using high doses of choline bitartrate. When choline bitartrate is used appropriately, hazardous effects are unlikely to occur.[1][2][6][7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Choline bitartrate". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
  2. ^ a b c d e f https://www.trc-canada.com/prod-img/MSDS/C432640MSDS.pdf
  3. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "quaternary ammonium compounds". doi:10.1351/goldbook.Q05003
  4. ^ "87-67-2 | Choline Bitartrate | Choline Tartrate; Choline Hydrogen Tartrate; Choline Tartrate (1:1); 2-Hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethyl-Ethanaminium Salt with (2R,3R)-2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic acid (1:1); , 2-Hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethylethanaminium Salt with [R-(R*,R*)]-2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic Acid (1:1); (2R,3R)-2,3-Dihydroxybutanedioic Acid Ion(1-) 2-Hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethylethanaminium; [R-(R*,R*)]-2,3-Dihydroxybutanedioic Acid Ion(1-), 2-Hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethylethanaminium; Tartaric acid Ion(1-) Choline; (2-Hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium Bitartrate; | C₉H₁₉NO₇ | TRC".
  5. ^ "APA PsycNet". psycnet.apa.org.
  6. ^ a b https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/GB/en/sds/usp/1133536
  7. ^ a b https://www.oxfordlabchem.com/msds/(C-02684)%20CHOLINE%20BITARTRATE.pdf