The term isopropanolamine may also refer more generally to the additional homologs diisopropanolamine (DIPA) and triisopropanolamine (TIPA).
It can be prepared by the addition of aqueous ammonia to propylene oxide.
The O-phosphate ester is produced from threonine by the enzyme Threonine-phosphate decarboxylase.
They are good solubilizers of oil and fat, so they are used to neutralize fatty acids and sulfonic acid-based surfactants.
[citation needed] (R)-1-aminopropan-2-ol is metabolised to aminoacetone by the enzyme (R)-aminopropanol dehydrogenase.