Morpholine is a heterocyclic secondary amine. It is formed by the condensation of diethanolamine and sulfuric acid. Its IR spectra and Raman spectra at -180°C has been recorded. The crystal structure of morpholine has been determined at 150K. The microwave spectra of morpholine within the 8 to 40GHz region have been investigated. Ascorbate anion and glutathione have been reported to inhibit the aqueous reaction between nitrogen dioxide and morpholine. Conformational studies by Raman spectroscopy and theoretical calculations suggest that equatorial chair conformation of morpholine predominates in the pure liquid state. Degradation of morpholine using Mycobacterium sp. strain RP1 has been proposed.

Morpholine is suitable for use as a test compound in the study of morpholine biodegradation by Mycobacterium strains.
It may be used in the following studies:

• As a reactant in the synthesis of 1,3-dihydro-1-hydroxy-3-morpholin-4-yl-2,1-benzoxaborole by reacting with o-formylphenylboronic acid.
• As a corrosion inhibitor and to maintain basic pH in boiler feed water.
• As a reactant in the bis(β-ketoenolates)nickel(II) adducts of morpholine.
• As one of the reagent used in the colorimetric quantitative determination of C-2 unsubstituted phenothiazine derivatives.
• As a reactant in the quantitative determination of α,β-unsaturated compounds.