Name: China Manufacturer Supply High Quality (S)-3-Amino-gamma-butyrolactone hydrochloride CAS 117752-82-6
Brand: Wuhan Fortuna Chemical Co., Ltd.

(S)-3-Amino-γ-butyrolactone hydrochloride is a specific stereoisomer of a chemical compound with important applications in pharmaceutical synthesis. Here’s a breakdown of what it is and its primary uses:

What It Is (Chemical Identity)

Core Structure: It consists of a γ-butyrolactone ring (a 5-membered cyclic ester).
Functional Group: An amino group (-NH₂) is attached to the third carbon of the ring.
Stereochemistry: The (S) prefix indicates that it is the single, specific enantiomer (like a left-handed version) of the molecule. This is critically important for its biological activity.
Salt Form: The hydrochloride part means it is supplied as a stable salt with hydrochloric acid, which improves its crystallinity, purity, and handling properties.

Synonyms: It is often referred to as (S)-3-Aminodihydrofuran-2(3H)-one hydrochloride or simply as the key chiral intermediate for pregabalin.

Primary Uses and Significance

Its main significance is almost exclusively as a high-value pharmaceutical intermediate, specifically for the synthesis of pregabalin and related compounds.

1. Synthesis of Pregabalin (Lyrica®):

This is its most important application. Pregabalin is a blockbuster prescription medication used to treat:

Neuropathic pain (e.g., from diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia).
Fibromyalgia.
Generalized anxiety disorder (in some countries).
Adjunctive therapy for partial-onset seizures in epilepsy.

(S)-3-Amino-γ-butyrolactone hydrochloride serves as the crucial chiral building block in one of the major industrial synthetic routes to pregabalin. The synthetic process typically involves:

Using this lactone as the starting material that already contains the correct (S) absolute configuration.
Performing a ring-opening reaction to convert the lactone into the open-chain GABA analog, pregabalin ((S)-3-aminomethyl-5-methylhexanoic acid), while preserving the stereochemical integrity.

2. Synthesis of Other GABA Analogues:

It is a versatile chiral synthon for research and development of other pharmaceutically active compounds that target the GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) system in the brain. This includes potential:

Anticonvulsants
Anxiolytics (anti-anxiety drugs)
Analgesics (pain relievers)

3. Role in Asymmetric Synthesis:

As a readily available chiral starting material, it is used in organic chemistry research to create more complex molecules with defined stereochemistry for drug discovery programs.

Key Properties (Why This Specific Form is Used)

Chiral Purity: The production of single-enantiomer drugs like pregabalin is mandatory because the other enantiomer (the "R" form) is inactive or could have different effects. Starting with or creating the pure (S)-isomer at an early stage (like this lactone) is often the most efficient way to ensure the final drug's purity and efficacy.
Crystalline Solid: The hydrochloride salt form is a stable, crystalline solid, making it ideal for purification, long-term storage, and precise weighing in industrial and laboratory settings.
Reactivity: The strained lactone ring is reactive, allowing chemists to selectively open it and further functionalize the molecule to build the final drug structure.

Summary

In essence, (S)-3-Amino-γ-butyrolactone hydrochloride is not a drug itself but a critical chiral intermediate in the manufacturing supply chain for the widely prescribed drug pregabalin (Lyrica). Its value lies in providing the correct three-dimensional molecular "scaffold" early in the synthesis, ensuring an efficient and stereochemically pure pathway to the final active pharmaceutical ingredient.