Trimethylamine N-oxide

Trimethylamine N-oxide
Names
	Preferred IUPAC name N,N-Dimethylmethanamine N-oxide
	Other names Trimethylamine oxide, TMAO, TMANO
Identifiers
CAS Number	1184-78-7 ; 62637-93-8 (dihydrate);
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChEBI	CHEBI:15724 ;
ChemSpider	1113 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.013.341
KEGG	C01104 ;
PubChem CID	1145;
UNII	FLD0K1SJ1A ; C73WZ0186W (dihydrate) ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID001030179 DTXSID8049678, DTXSID001030179 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C3H9NO/c1-4(2,3)5/h1-3H3 Key: UYPYRKYUKCHHIB-UHFFFAOYSA-N ; InChI=1/C3H9NO/c1-4(2,3)5/h1-3H3 Key: UYPYRKYUKCHHIB-UHFFFAOYAU;
	SMILES C[N+](C)(C)[O-];
Properties
Chemical formula	(CH3)3NO
Molar mass	75.111 g·mol−1
Appearance	colorless solid
Melting point	220 to 222 °C (428 to 432 °F; 493 to 495 K) (dihydrate: 96 °C)
Solubility in water	good
Dipole moment	5.4 D
Related compounds
Related compounds	Trifluoramine oxide;
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is an organic compound with the formula (C H₃)₃N O. It is in the class of amine oxides. Although the anhydrous compound is known, trimethylamine N-oxide is usually encountered as the dihydrate. Both the anhydrous and hydrated materials are white, water-soluble solids.

TMAO is found in the tissues of marine crustaceans and marine fish, where it prevents water pressure from distorting proteins and thus killing the animal. The concentration of TMAO increases with the depth at which the animal lives; TMAO is found in high concentrations in the deepest-living described fish species, Pseudoliparis swirei, which was found in the Mariana Trench, at a recorded depth of 8,076 m (26,496 ft).

In animals, TMAO is a product of the oxidation of trimethylamine, a common metabolite of trimethyl quaternary ammonium compounds, like choline, trimethylglycine, and L-carnitine. High TMAO concentrations are associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease.