N-Methyl-D-glucamine (CAS: 6284-40-8)

It is an amine formed by reduction of glucosylamine or  glucose oxime. N-alkylated glucamines

are prepared from D-glucose and relevant alkylamines. Meglumine is N-methyl glucamine, a

derivative of sorbitol in which the hydroxyl group in position 1 is replaced by a methylamino group.

It is a white crystalline powder; melting at 130 C. Meglumine is used in the preparation of certain

radiopaque media such as diatrizoate meglumine and iodipamide meglumine. Meglumine is combined

as an excipient (an inert substance) not an active ingredient. Excipients are added to ensure that the

shelf-life of the active ingredients can be long enough to be active until internal use. Excipients are

combined also to support the active ingredients, so that the latter can be easily administered or

absorbed in the body. Examples of meglumine-combined medicine are flunixin meglumine (non-steroidal

anti-inflammatory medicine, used as a veterinary anti-inflammatory and analgesic) and meglumine antimoniate

(antiprotozoal to treat leishmaniasis). Meglumine is used in ion-exchange resins to chelate boron ions selectively.

N-alkyl glucamines are used in preparing functional surfactants and some solutions which are stable over a

wide range of pH and ionic strength.