Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine is a chemical compound derived from plants from the Brassicaceae family and from Dimethylamine, an organic compound with formula(CH₃)₂NH

The name defines the structure of the molecule

• "Brassicamido". Indicates the presence of an amide group derived from an oil of seed plants in the Brassicaceae family (such as cabbages or broccoli).
• "Propyl". Indicates the presence of a propyl side chain, which is an alkyl group with the formula C₃H₇.
• "Dimethylamine". Is a secondary amine with two methyl groups attached to nitrogen. It has the formula (CH3)2NH.

Description of raw materials used in production

• Secondary Amine - Typically, dimethylamine is used as the secondary amine.
• Brassica Oil - Oil obtained from plants of the Brassica genus, such as rapeseed or canola, which contains fatty acids.
• Hydrochloric Acid - Used to neutralize the reaction.

Step-by-step summary of its industrial chemical synthesis process. 

• Preparation of Fatty Amine - The fatty acids in the Brassica oil react with dimethylamine to form a fatty amine.
• Neutralization and Purification - The fatty amine is neutralized with hydrochloric acid and then purified, e.g., by distillation.

What it is for and where

Cosmetics

INCI functions

Hair conditioning agent. A significant number of ingredients with specific and targeted purposes may co-exist in hair shampoo formulations: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, matting agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersants that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioning agents includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners. They can perform their task generally accompanied by other different ingredients.

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

Safety

No cases of intolerance or allergies have been reported, however the Dimethylamine is a restricted substance as  II/142 a Relevant Item in the Annexes of the European Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.

Concentrations of Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine at 4% and stearamidopropyl dimethylamine at 2% pure or diluted at 30% were not found to be contact sensitizers. However, irritation reactions were observed (1).

Commercial applications 

Hair Conditioning Agent. Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine is used in conditioners and hair treatments to detangle and condition the hair, making it soft and manageable.

Emulsifier in Cosmetic Products. It is used in creams and lotions to help mix water and oils, creating a uniform texture.

Antistatic Agent. Used in hair products to reduce static electricity, making the hair more manageable.

Silicone Substitute. It can be used as an alternative to silicones in hair products to improve shine and softness without weighing hair down.

Thickening Agent. It is used to increase the viscosity of cosmetic products.

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Burnett, C. L., Boyer, I., Bergfeld, W. F., Belsito, D. V., Hill, R. A., Klaassen, C. D., ... & Heldreth, B. (2019). Safety assessment of fatty acid amidopropyl dimethylamines as used in cosmetics. International journal of toxicology, 38(1_suppl), 39S-69S.

Abstract. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel (Panel) reviewed the safety of fatty acid amidopropyl dimethylamines, which function primarily as antistatic agents in cosmetic products. The relevant animal and human data reviewed for these ingredients indicate that they are potential dermal sensitizers that may be due in part by the sensitizing impurity, 3,3-dimethylaminopropylamine. The Panel concluded that fatty acid amidopropyl dimethylamines were safe as cosmetic ingredients when they are formulated to be nonsensitizing, which may be based on a quantitative risk assessment.