Aminoacetone is the organic compound with the formula CH3C(O)CH2NH2. Although stable in the gaseous form, once condensed it reacts with itself. The protonated derivative forms isolable salts, e.g. aminoacetone hydrochloride ([CH<sub>3</sub>C(O)CH<sub>2</sub>NH<sub>3</sub>]Cl)). The semicarbazone of the hydrochloride is another bench-stable precursor.[1] Aminoacetone is a metabolite that is implicated in the biosynthesis of methylglyoxal.[2]
Aminoacetone is also produced during catabolism of the amino acid threonine. Threonine is first dehydrogenated to 2-amino-3-oxobutyrate, which is unstable and spontaneously decarboxylates to aminoacetone. Aminoacetone is then oxidized and deaminated, giving 2-oxopropanal (methylglyoxal), which is in turn oxidized to pyruvate. This pathway is the most important catabolic pathway of threonine in mammals.[3]