DL-1,4-Dithiothreitol
| Name of Product | DL-1,4-Dithiothreitol |
|---|---|
| CAS No | 3483-12-3 |
| Therapeutic use:- | Anti-Diabetic |
| API Name | Saxagliptin & Other Multiple Products |
| Form:- | API Powder |
| Status | Campaign |
Product Overview
DL-1,4-Dithiothreitol, universally abbreviated DTT and still widely known as Cleland’s reagent, is a white to almost white low-melting crystalline solid supplied under CAS 3483-12-3.
It is a small dithiol two thiol groups on a four-carbon diol backbone and it is the standard reagent for reducing disulfide bonds in proteins and for holding cysteine residues in their reduced state.
Its effectiveness comes from a structural quirk rather than from raw reducing power.
When DTT reduces a disulfide it does so in two sequential thiol-disulfide exchange steps, and the intermediate mixed-disulfide is short-lived because the second thiol closes onto the first to form a stable six-membered cyclic disulfide.
That ring closure pulls the equilibrium decisively toward the reduced product.
The redox potential is around −0.33 V at pH 7.
Two practical consequences follow, and both matter to anyone specifying the material.
First, DTT only works at neutral to basic pH, because the reactive species is the thiolate anion rather than the protonated thiol.
Below about pH 7 its reducing power falls away sharply.
Second, the same ring-closure that drives the reaction also happens on exposure to air DTT oxidises to its own cyclic disulfide over time, and that oxidised fraction contributes nothing.
Storage, packing and handling therefore have a direct and measurable effect on effective potency at the point of use.
Compared with 2-mercaptoethanol, the reagent it largely replaced, DTT is a non-volatile solid, considerably less pungent, less toxic, and effective at roughly a seven-fold lower molar concentration.
Those advantages are why it became the default in protein biochemistry and why it remains embedded in a great many validated manufacturing processes.
We supply DTT in a Technical / Reagent Grade for research, analytical and non-regulated use. Every consignment carries a batch Certificate of Analysis and a GHS-format MSDS.
Actiza has over 12 years of B2B pharmaceutical export experience, 500+ global clients and a supply footprint across 40+ countries, backed by WHO-GMP and ISO-certified group manufacturing infrastructure in Gujarat, India.
Key Highlights
Assay ≥ 98.0%, verified on every batch.
Animal-origin-free and TSE/BSE-free declarations supplied.
Cold-chain, inert-blanketed, light-protected packing.
12+ years of export experience across 40+ countries.
Application in Manufacturing
DTT is not incorporated into any product. It is added to do a job and then deliberately removed, which makes it a process reagent rather than a building block.
That distinction shapes everything a buyer cares about.
What DTT Does
| Function | Mechanism | Where It Is Used |
|---|---|---|
| Reduces disulfide bonds | Two sequential thiol-disulfide exchanges, driven by cyclic disulfide formation | Protein refolding, ADC conjugation, analytical sample preparation |
| Maintains free thiols | Keeps cysteine residues from re-oxidising | Enzyme stabilisation, buffer systems, purification steps |
| Cleaves disulfide-containing linkers | Same exchange chemistry applied to reagent disulfides | Bioconjugation and crosslinker chemistry |
| Liquefies mucoid samples | Reduces disulfide crosslinks in mucin glycoproteins | Sputum processing in clinical microbiology and diagnostics |
Downstream Applications
| Application Area | Role of DTT | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Antibody-drug conjugate manufacture | Reduces the interchain disulfide bonds of the monoclonal antibody to generate free thiols for payload attachment | Documented across published ADC process patents; partial or full reduction is used to control the drug-antibody ratio, often followed by controlled re-oxidation |
| Recombinant protein refolding | Reduces and solubilises misfolded protein recovered from bacterial inclusion bodies before oxidative refolding | The established approach for E. coli-expressed therapeutic proteins; DTT clearance is monitored through to the final formulated product |
| Biosimilar and biologics process development | Redox control in upstream and downstream operations | Used in buffers, refold pools and hold steps |
| Peptide manufacturing | Reduction and thiol protection during synthesis and work-up | Also used in cleavage and scavenging systems |
| Analytical and QC laboratories | Sample reduction for electrophoresis, chromatography and mass spectrometry | Standard reducing agent in protein characterisation workflows |
| Clinical diagnostics | Mucolytic action for sputum liquefaction | Used in sample preparation for microbiological culture and molecular testing |
DTT or TCEP? An Honest Comparison
Buyers evaluating a reducing agent will compare these two, so the page states the trade-off rather than avoiding it:
| Consideration | DTT | TCEP |
|---|---|---|
| Working pH range | Requires pH above about 7 | Works across a wider range including acidic conditions |
| Stability in solution | Air-oxidises; solutions are best made fresh | More stable in solution |
| Odour | Noticeable thiol odour, though far milder than 2-mercaptoethanol | Essentially odourless |
| Interference | Thiol can react with maleimides and some conjugation reagents, so removal before conjugation is required | Can be tolerated in some conjugation systems without removal |
| Cost and process fit | Lower cost; embedded in many validated legacy processes | Higher cost; more common in newer processes |
Industry Segments Served
ADC and bioconjugate manufacturers
Biosimilar and recombinant protein manufacturers
Biologics CDMOs and process development organisations
Peptide manufacturers
Diagnostics and IVD manufacturers
Analytical, QC and research laboratories
Technical Specifications
The parameters below represent our standard commercial specification. Customer-specific specifications can be agreed at enquiry stage.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name (IUPAC) | rel-(2R,3R)-1,4-Bis(sulfanyl)butane-2,3-diol |
| Common Synonyms | DTT; Cleland’s reagent; DL-1,4-Dithiothreitol; threo-1,4-Dimercapto-2,3-butanediol; 1,4-Dithio-DL-threitol |
| CAS Number | 3483-12-3 |
| MDL Number | MFCD00004877 |
| EC / EINECS Number | Available on request |
| Molecular Formula | C₄H₁₀O₂S₂ |
| Molecular Weight | 154.25 g/mol |
| Appearance | White to almost white crystalline powder |
| Assay / Purity | ≥ 98.0% |
| Identification | IR or ¹H-NMR conforms to reference standard |
| Melting Range | Approximately 41 – 45 °C |
| Boiling Point | Approximately 125 – 130 °C at 2 mmHg |
| Redox Potential | Approximately −0.33 V at pH 7 |
| Effective pH Range | Above pH 7 the reactive thiolate form predominates only under neutral to basic conditions |
| Oxidised DTT Content | Available on request |
| Water Content (Karl Fischer) | Available on request |
| Trace Metals / Elemental Impurities | Available on request |
| Residual Solvents | As per ICH Q3C |
| Endotoxin | Available on request |
| Bioburden (TAMC / TYMC) | Available on request |
| Solubility | Freely soluble in water (approximately 50 mg/mL and above); soluble in ethanol, acetone and ethyl acetate |
| Storage Condition | Store at 2 – 8 °C in tightly closed original packing, protected from light, moisture and air |
| Shelf Life | As stated on the batch COA, in unopened original packing under recommended storage |
| GHS Classification | Available on request |
| Transport Classification | Available on request |
Handling, Storage & Stability Guidance
DTT is straightforward to handle but genuinely demanding to store. Three characteristics govern how it should be treated.
Air Oxidation
Keep containers tightly sealed and, where practical, blanketed with dry inert gas; minimise open-container time.
Prepare aqueous working solutions fresh DTT has a short useful life in water, shorter still at higher pH and in the presence of metal ions.
Include a chelating agent such as EDTA in working buffers where the process allows it, to suppress metal-catalysed oxidation.
Temperature and the Low Melting Point
DTT melts at roughly 41 – 45 °C. Container interiors on summer sailings from India routinely exceed that, and so do warehouses in many destination markets.
Material that has melted and re-solidified will have experienced conditions that accelerate oxidation, and repeated melt-freeze cycling causes caking and uneven distribution within the container.
We ship refrigerated or with season-appropriate temperature management, and receiving sites should move consignments into 2 – 8 °C storage on arrival rather than holding them in ambient warehousing.
General Handling
Store at 2 – 8 °C, protected from light and moisture; the material is hygroscopic.
Allow containers to reach room temperature before opening to prevent condensation on the powder.
Handle with dust control and appropriate PPE; the compound has a noticeable thiol odour, though far. milder than 2-mercaptoethanol.
Keep away from oxidising agents.
Consult the MSDS supplied with the batch before handling.
Regulatory & Documentation Support
DTT is a process reagent rather than a starting material incorporated into the product, so a DMF or CEP does not apply.
What biologics buyers need is raw-material documentation robust enough to sit inside their own quality system.
Documentation Supplied
Certificate of Analysis (COA)- batch-specific, with every consignment.
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) in GHS format, with destination-language versions on request.
Animal-origin-free (AOF) and TSE/BSE-free declarations routinely required for biologics raw materials.
Non-GMO and allergen statements.
ICH Q3C residual solvent and ICH Q3D elemental impurity statements.
Manufacturing flow, analytical methods and specification rationale as part of the Technical Data Package.
Change control notification commitment for qualified customers.
Site audit access, subject to prior scheduling and confidentiality agreement.
Packaging, MOQ & Logistics
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Standard Packing | Amber or light-protected sealed HDPE containers with inert gas blanketing and desiccant, in outer protective packaging |
| Pack Sizes | Available on request |
| Minimum Order Quantity | Available on request |
| Production Lead Time | Available on request |
| Monthly Capacity | Available on request |
| Sampling | Analytical and working samples readily available; biologics customers typically request a sample plus full documentation package before qualification |
| Shipping Terms | FOB / CIF / CFR / EXW, as agreed |
| Cold Chain | Refrigerated or insulated shipping with temperature monitoring, appropriate to season and destination |
| Mode of Transport | Sea freight and air freight availability available on request, subject to dangerous-goods classification |
| Port of Loading | Available on request |
| Export Documentation | Standard commercial documentation |
Why Choose Us as Your DTT Supplier
Cold Chain Held Through the Journey
A material that melts below 45 °C and oxidises in air cannot be shipped like a commodity powder.
Packing, blanketing and temperature management are treated as part of the specification rather than as optional extras.
Batch-to-Batch Consistency
Every batch is released against the same analytical protocol with retained samples held for the declared shelf-life.
Where a customer qualifies our material into a validated process, we notify any change that could affect the profile before it reaches their site.
Export & Client Support
With 12+ years of B2B pharmaceutical export experience, 500+ global clients and shipments across Asia, Africa, Latin America, the CIS region and the Middle East, our commercial and documentation teams work across time zones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DTT used for in biopharmaceutical manufacturing?
Two main applications. In recombinant protein manufacture it reduces and solubilises misfolded protein recovered from bacterial inclusion bodies before oxidative refolding.
In antibody-drug conjugate manufacture it reduces the antibody’s interchain disulfide bonds to generate free thiols for payload attachment, with the extent of reduction used to control the drug-antibody ratio.
It is also standard in analytical sample preparation and in sputum liquefaction for diagnostics.
Should I use DTT or TCEP?
TCEP is more stable in solution, works below pH 7 where DTT does not, and is essentially odourless.
DTT is lower in cost, effective at neutral to basic pH, and is embedded in a great many validated processes where changing the reducing agent would trigger revalidation.
If you are developing a new process at low pH, look at TCEP. If you are running an established process at pH 7 to 8, DTT is usually the sensible choice.
Why does DTT need to be at pH 7 or above?
Only the deprotonated thiolate form is nucleophilic enough to attack a disulfide bond.
Below about pH 7 the thiol stays protonated and the reducing power falls away sharply.
This is the main practical limitation of the reagent and the reason TCEP is preferred for acidic conditions.
How should DTT be stored after delivery?
Move it into 2 – 8 °C storage on arrival, keep containers tightly sealed and protected from light and moisture, and allow them to reach room temperature before opening to avoid condensation.
Prepare aqueous working solutions fresh rather than storing them, and consider including EDTA in the buffer to suppress metal-catalysed oxidation.
Will the material survive summer sea freight?
DTT melts at roughly 41 – 45 °C and container interiors can exceed that on summer sailings. Melted and re-solidified material has experienced conditions that accelerate oxidation.
We ship refrigerated or with season-appropriate temperature management and, where required, temperature monitoring so you have a record on arrival.
Request a Quote for Bulk DTT Supply
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