2-Pyrrolidone 2-Py Butyrolactam CAS 616-45-5
- CAS No.: 616-45-5
- EINECS: 210-483-1
- Type: Cyclic Amide Intermediate / Specialty Chemical
- Appearance: Colorless transparent liquid
- Grade: Industrial Grade / Pharmaceutical Grade
- Packaging: 200 kg plastic drum; 200 kg iron drum
2-Pyrrolidone is a versatile cyclic amide intermediate widely used in polymer production, pharmaceutical synthesis, and specialty chemical manufacturing. With its high polarity, excellent solvency, and reactive lactam structure, 2-Pyrrolidone serves as an important raw material for the production of N-Vinylpyrrolidone (NVP), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and various pharmaceutical intermediates.
Tree Chem supplies 2-Pyrrolidone (CAS 616-45-5) in industrial and high-purity grades for customers requiring stable quality, controlled moisture, and consistent impurity profiles. For polymer manufacturers and pharmaceutical intermediate producers, raw material quality is especially important because unsuitable 2-Pyrrolidone feedstock may increase purification costs and create difficulties in achieving downstream product specifications. For technical information or purchasing inquiries, please contact info@cntreechem.com.
Specification
Basic Information
| Item | Specification |
| Product Name | 2-Pyrrolidone |
| Abbreviation | 2-Py |
| CAS No. | 616-45-5 |
| EINECS No. | 210-483-1 |
| Molecular Formula | C4H7NO |
| Molecular Weight | 85.10 g/mol |
| Synonyms | 2-Pyrrolidinone; Butyrolactam; 2-Azacyclopentanone; Alpha-Pyrrolidone |
Technical Specification
Industrial Grade 2-Pyrrolidone
| Test Item | Specification |
| Appearance | Colorless transparent liquid |
| Assay (GC) | ≥99.0% |
| Water Content | ≤0.5% |
| APHA Color | ≤50 |
| Acidity/Alkalinity | Controlled according to production specification |
Pharmaceutical / High Purity Grade 2-Pyrrolidone
| Test Item | Specification |
| Appearance | Colorless transparent liquid |
| APHA Color (Pt-Co) | ≤50 |
| Assay (GC) | ≥99.5% |
| γ-Butyrolactone | ≤0.1% |
| Polymer Content | ≤0.1% |
| Moisture | ≤0.2% |
Key Applications
Raw Material for N-Vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) Production
- One of the most important applications of 2-Pyrrolidone is its use as a starting material for N-Vinylpyrrolidone production. NVP is further used in the manufacture of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), a functional polymer widely applied in pharmaceutical, personal care, and industrial formulations.
- For NVP manufacturers, the quality of 2-Pyrrolidone feedstock directly affects production efficiency. Purity, moisture level, and impurity composition are important factors because unwanted components may interfere with reaction control, increase purification requirements, or influence final polymer performance.
- Selecting a consistent 2-Pyrrolidone supplier helps manufacturers maintain stable production conditions and reduce variation between batches.
Pharmaceutical Intermediate Manufacturing
- 2-Pyrrolidone is also used as an intermediate material in pharmaceutical synthesis and fine chemical production. Pharmaceutical-related customers usually have stricter requirements compared with general industrial users because trace impurities and metal ions may influence downstream reactions.
For these applications, manufacturers typically focus on:
- High assay value
- Low moisture content
- Controlled acidity and alkalinity
- Low trace impurity levels
- Stable batch-to-batch quality
- Poor-quality 2-Pyrrolidone raw materials cannot always be fully corrected through later purification processes. Additional separation steps may increase production costs, reduce efficiency, and in some cases make it difficult to achieve pharmaceutical-grade downstream products.
Polymer and Specialty Material Production
- 2-Pyrrolidone is widely recognized as an important building block in polymer chemistry. Its derivatives, especially PVP-related materials, are used in applications requiring water solubility, binding ability, and film-forming properties.
- Polymer manufacturers select 2-Pyrrolidone based on production stability, impurity control, and compatibility with their synthesis process. Consistent raw material quality helps maintain predictable polymer characteristics during large-scale manufacturing.
Solvent and Chemical Processing Applications
- Due to its strong polarity and good compatibility with various organic substances, 2-Pyrrolidone can also function as a specialty solvent in chemical processing.
- Compared with general solvents, 2-Pyrrolidone provides unique solvency characteristics for systems requiring high polarity and good material compatibility.
Why Manufacturers Choose Controlled Quality 2-Pyrrolidone
Stable Purity Supports Consistent Production
- For 2-Pyrrolidone users, purity is one of the most important factors when selecting a raw material supplier. Although assay value is usually the first specification reviewed during purchasing, experienced manufacturers also consider the complete impurity profile.
- In applications such as N-Vinylpyrrolidone production and pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis, small differences in raw material composition may influence reaction behavior, purification efficiency, and final product quality.
- Tree Chem focuses on providing 2-Pyrrolidone with controlled specifications to help customers maintain stable production performance and reduce unnecessary adjustments during manufacturing.
Moisture Control Helps Improve Process Reliability
- Water content is a key quality parameter for 2-Pyrrolidone because moisture may affect certain synthesis processes and downstream reaction control.
- For polymer manufacturers, excessive moisture may influence reaction efficiency and increase process adjustment requirements. For pharmaceutical-related applications, moisture control is even more important because raw material consistency directly affects process reproducibility.
- Selecting a grade with suitable moisture specifications allows manufacturers to balance production requirements and cost considerations.
Impurity Control Reduces Downstream Processing Challenges
- The quality of 2-Pyrrolidone feedstock can have a significant influence on downstream purification.
- Some impurities may not be completely removed by conventional distillation or may require additional purification steps. This can increase energy consumption, extend processing time, and create challenges when producing high-purity downstream products.
- For customers producing pharmaceutical intermediates or high-value polymers, evaluating impurity profile before purchasing is often more important than simply comparing product price.
Trace Metal Control for Sensitive Applications
- For general industrial applications, trace metal content may receive limited attention. However, pharmaceutical synthesis and high-purity chemical manufacturing often require stricter control of metal ions.
- Trace metals can potentially interfere with sensitive reactions or affect final product specifications. Therefore, customers with strict quality requirements usually evaluate supplier quality management, analytical capability, and batch consistency before long-term cooperation.
How to Select the Right Grade
Selecting the correct grade of 2-Pyrrolidone depends mainly on the downstream application, production requirements, and quality expectations.
Industrial Grade 2-Pyrrolidone
Industrial grade 2-Pyrrolidone is suitable for applications where balanced performance and cost efficiency are the main considerations.
Typical applications include:
- Polymer manufacturing
- General chemical synthesis
- Industrial processing applications
Customers selecting industrial grade usually focus on:
- Assay value
- Moisture content
- Color
- Production stability
For standard polymer and chemical applications, industrial grade can provide suitable performance without unnecessary specification costs.
Pharmaceutical / High Purity Grade 2-Pyrrolidone
High purity 2-Pyrrolidone is designed for applications where tighter quality control is required.
Typical users include:
- Pharmaceutical intermediate manufacturers
- Fine chemical producers
- Customers producing high-purity downstream materials
These customers generally pay closer attention to:
- Low moisture content
- Controlled impurity levels
- Low residual by-products
- Trace metal management
- Batch consistency
When the downstream product requires pharmaceutical-level quality, selecting a suitable high-purity raw material at the beginning of the process can reduce later purification difficulties.
Common Purchasing Mistakes
Only Comparing Assay Value
- A common purchasing mistake is selecting 2-Pyrrolidone only according to purity percentage.
- Although assay is important, other parameters such as moisture, color, impurity composition, and metal ion content may also influence production performance.
Ignoring Water Content Requirements
- Different production processes have different sensitivity to moisture.
- A product suitable for general industrial use may not necessarily meet the requirements of pharmaceutical intermediate production.
- Before purchasing, customers should evaluate whether the water specification matches their process conditions.
Assuming Distillation Can Remove All Impurities
- Some buyers believe that lower-quality 2-Pyrrolidone can always be corrected through later purification.
- In practice, additional purification is not always efficient. Certain impurities may increase processing difficulty, raise production costs, or affect the ability to achieve downstream product specifications.
- Selecting appropriate raw material quality from the beginning is often a more economical approach.
Choosing the Highest Grade Without Considering Application
- The highest specification is not always necessary for every application.
- For industrial polymer production, a properly controlled industrial grade may provide sufficient performance. For pharmaceutical-related manufacturing, higher purity specifications may be required.
- The correct grade should be selected according to actual production needs.
Comparison With Similar Products
| Product | Main Characteristics | Typical Applications |
| 2-Pyrrolidone | Nitrogen-containing cyclic amide with strong polarity and reactive lactam structure | NVP production, PVP manufacturing, pharmaceutical intermediates, specialty synthesis |
| N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) | Methyl-substituted pyrrolidone solvent with strong solvency | Electronics, coatings, polymer processing, industrial cleaning |
| N-Ethyl-2-pyrrolidone (NEP) | Ethyl-substituted pyrrolidone solvent with different solvent characteristics | Industrial solvent applications, electronics, specialty formulations |
| Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL) | Oxygen-containing cyclic ester intermediate | Solvent applications and chemical synthesis |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 2-Pyrrolidone mainly used for?
- 2-Pyrrolidone is mainly used as a raw material for N-Vinylpyrrolidone production, polymer manufacturing, pharmaceutical intermediates, and specialty chemical synthesis.
Why is moisture important for 2-Pyrrolidone?
- Moisture can influence reaction conditions and process stability. Customers with sensitive applications usually require tighter water control to maintain consistent production performance.
Can low-quality 2-Pyrrolidone be purified later?
- Additional purification may improve some quality parameters, but it cannot always completely solve problems caused by unsuitable raw materials. Poor impurity control may increase processing costs and affect downstream product quality.
Which grade of 2-Pyrrolidone should polymer manufacturers choose?
- The appropriate grade depends on the polymer production process. Industrial grade is commonly selected for general applications, while higher purity grades are preferred when downstream quality requirements are stricter.
Storage & Handling
- Store in tightly sealed containers in a cool and dry environment.
- Protect from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight.
- Avoid contamination during storage and handling.
- Use clean and dry equipment when transferring the product.
- Keep containers properly closed when not in use.
Usage Notice
- 2-Pyrrolidone should be evaluated according to the requirements of the specific production process before commercial use.
- For applications involving pharmaceutical intermediates or high-purity downstream products, customers should consider purity, moisture content, impurity profile, and trace metal requirements before selecting the appropriate grade.
Packaging
- 200 kg plastic drum
- 200 kg iron drum
- Custom packaging available on request



