MolDraw › 3D molecule models › Dopamine structure
Dopamine structure and 3D model (C8H11NO2)
Dopamine is a catecholamine: a benzene ring with two neighbouring OH groups (a catechol) and a two-carbon chain ending in an NH₂ group.
Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom. 3D coordinates: computed with RDKit (ETKDG conformer, force-field optimised).
Dopamine at a glance
| Formula | C8H11NO2 |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 153.18 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzene-1,2-diol |
| Atoms / bonds | 22 / 22 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 3 / 3 |
| logP (estimated) | 0.6 |
| SMILES | C1=CC(=C(C=C1CCN)O)O |
| InChIKey | VYFYYTLLBUKUHU-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| PubChem | 681 |
What the 3D model of Dopamine shows
The model contains 22 atoms (11 heavy atoms and 11 hydrogens) joined by 22 bonds; in ball-and-stick mode every stick is one bond, and double or aromatic bonds are drawn as multiple sticks. Switch to space-filling to see the molecule as its electron cloud, scaled to van der Waals radii: this is the shape other molecules actually "feel". It can donate 3 and accept 3 hydrogen bonds, and its estimated logP of 0.6 means it is fairly balanced between water and fat. Its topological polar surface area is 66 Ų.
Shape and bond angles
| Atom(s) | Geometry / hybridisation | Angles & lengths |
|---|---|---|
| ring carbons | Trigonal planar, sp²; planar ring | 120° |
| CH₂ carbons | Tetrahedral, sp³ | ≈ 109.5° |
| amine N | Trigonal pyramidal, sp³ | ≈ 107° |
Is Dopamine polar?
Yes. Two phenol OH groups and an amine let it form many hydrogen bonds. At body pH the amine is protonated.
Elemental composition of C8H11NO2
| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 8 | 96.088 | 62.73% |
| Hydrogen (H) | 11 | 11.088 | 7.24% |
| Nitrogen (N) | 1 | 14.007 | 9.14% |
| Oxygen (O) | 2 | 31.998 | 20.89% |
Calculated from IUPAC standard atomic weights. Check any formula with the molar mass calculator.
Uses of dopamine
- Neurotransmitter for movement, motivation and reward
- Given by drip in hospitals to support blood pressure
- Precursor of noradrenaline and adrenaline in the body
Interesting facts
- Dopamine is made in the body from the amino acid tyrosine via L-DOPA.
- Loss of dopamine-producing neurons is a key feature of Parkinson's disease.
- Catechols such as dopamine oxidise in air, turning solutions pink then brown.
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Open MolDraw editorFrequently asked questions
What is the structure of Dopamine?
Dopamine is a catecholamine: a benzene ring with two neighbouring OH groups (a catechol) and a two-carbon chain ending in an NH₂ group. Its SMILES is C1=CC(=C(C=C1CCN)O)O.
What is a catecholamine?
A molecule with a catechol (benzene-1,2-diol) and an amine. Dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline are the main examples.
Why can't dopamine be taken as a pill for Parkinson's?
Dopamine does not cross the blood-brain barrier, so its precursor L-DOPA (levodopa) is used instead.
What is the chemical formula and molar mass of Dopamine?
Dopamine is C8H11NO2 with a molar mass of 153.18 g/mol. It contains 22 atoms: 8 carbon, 11 hydrogen, 1 nitrogen, 2 oxygen.
What is the IUPAC name of Dopamine?
The IUPAC name is 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzene-1,2-diol.
How do I draw Dopamine?
Open the MolDraw editor, paste the SMILES C1=CC(=C(C=C1CCN)O)O or type "Dopamine" in name search, and the structure is drawn for you. You can then export it as PNG, SVG, MOL or CDXML.