Description

Methylcobalamin API (mecobalamin, MeCbl, or MeB₁₂) is a cobalamin, a form of vitamin B₁₂.

It differs from cyanocobalaminin that the cyano at the cobalt is replaced with a methyl group.

Methylcobalamin features an octahedral cobalt(III) centre and can be obtained as bright red crystals From the perspective of coordination chemistry, methylcobalamin is notable as a rare example of a compound that contains metal-alkyl bonds.

Nickel-methyl intermediates have been proposed for the final step of methanogenesis.

Methylcobalamin is equivalent physiologically to vitamin B₁₂,and can be used to prevent or treat pathology arising from a lack of vitamin B₁₂ intake (vitamin B12 deficiency).