In organic chemistry, alkanolamines (amino alcohols) are organic compounds that contain both hydroxyl (\sOH) and amino (\sNH2, \sNHR, and \sNR2) functional groups on an alkane backbone. Most alkanolamines are colorless.

1-Aminoalcohols

1-Aminoalcohols are better known as hemiaminals. Methanolamine is the simplest member.

2-Aminoalcohols

2-Aminoalcohols are an important class of organic compounds that are often generated by the reaction of amines with epoxides: Simple alkanolamines are used as solvents, synthetic intermediates, and high-boiling bases. Hydrogenation or hydride reduction of amino acids gives the corresponding 2-aminoalcohols. Examples include prolinol (from proline), valinol (from valine), tyrosinol (from tyrosine). Key members: ethanolamine, dimethylethanolamine, N-methylethanolamine, Aminomethyl propanol. Two popular drugs, often called alkanolamine beta blockers, are members of this structural class: propranolol, pindolol. Isoetarine is yet another medicinally useful derivative of ethanolamine.

1,3-, 1,4-, and 1,5-amino alcohols

Natural products

Most proteins and peptides contain both alcohols and amino groups. Two amino acids are alkanolamines, formally speaking: serine and hydroxyproline.