Application Fields of Tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA)

English Name: N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA)

CAS No.: 110-18-9

Chromatographic Purity: ≥99.0%

Molecular Weight: 116.2

Flash Point: 50 °F

Physical Form: Liquid

Refractive Index: n20/D 1.4179 (lit.)

Density: 0.775 g/mL at 20 °C (lit.)

Applications: Pharmaceutical intermediate

N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) is a colorless transparent liquid with a slight ammonia odor. It is miscible with water and most organic solvents such as ethanol. TMEDAis an important organic intermediate widely used as a biochemical reagent, epoxy resin curing agent, and intermediate for the synthesis of quaternary ammonium compounds.

Tetramethylethylenediamine (N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethylethylenediamine, abbreviated as TMEDA) is a structurally symmetric, chemically stable organic diamine compound with CAS No. 110-18-9. As a polar aprotic solvent and an efficient coordinating ligand, TMEDA  is widely used in pharmaceuticals, biochemistry, fine chemicals, and polymer materials. It is an irreplaceable intermediate in many key reaction systems.

1. Applications in the Pharmaceutical Field

TMEDA is an important pharmaceutical intermediate used in the synthesis of various drugs, including antiviral, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory agents. In synthetic pathways, TMEDA often serves as a tertiary amine structural unit to build target molecules and stabilize reactive intermediates, thereby improving synthesis efficiency.

Additionally, it is widely applied as a ligand in organometallic catalyst systems, facilitating nucleophilic addition, substitution, or coupling reactions in the preparation of pharmaceutical-grade raw materials.

2. Role in Organic Synthesis Reactions

TMEDA acts as a highly effective complexing ligand in various organic reactions, including:

2.1 Grignard reactions

2.2 Organolithium reagent systems (e.g., n-BuLi/TMEDA)

2.3 Transition metal catalysis (e.g., copper and zinc coordination)

Its mechanism involves enhancing the reactivity of the metal center and improving reaction selectivity, making TMEDA an indispensable additive in high-activity organic reaction systems.

3. Applications in Polymer Materials

TMEDA is widely used as a catalyst or additive in the preparation of various material systems, such as:

3.1 Epoxy resin curing agent: Used together with amine curing agents to increase crosslink density and mechanical properties.

3.2 Polyurethane foam catalyst: Promotes reactions between isocyanates and polyether polyols.

3.3 Polyacrylamide gel polymerization aid: Catalyzes free radical generation, supporting the preparation of polyacrylamide gels for applications such as SDS-PAGE in laboratory electrophoresis.

4. Uses in Biochemical Research

In biochemistry, TMEDA  is widely used to initiate free radical polymerization systems. Particularly, the ammonium persulfate (APS)/TEMED system is common for preparing high-purity gel matrices, providing high-resolution media for protein electrophoresis, DNA separation, and related experiments.

As a co-initiator for free radical polymerization, TMEDA offers advantages such as low toxicity, ease of handling, and good control over polymerization.

5. Other Potential Application Fields

5.1 Battery and energy storage materials: Its coordinating function can help stabilize ionic systems.

5.2 Ink and dye intermediates: Acts as an amine-based crosslinker to improve color fastness.

5.3 Coating curing systems: Serves as a modifying amine in epoxy reactions to enhance adhesion and corrosion resistance.

Summary

Thanks to its unique structure, excellent coordinating ability, and chemical stability, TMEDA  demonstrates high application value in various chemical, material, and biochemical fields. With the continued promotion of green chemistry and efficient synthesis practices, its market demand is steadily increasing.

For enterprises and research institutions seeking to enhance reaction efficiency and product value, mastering and properly applying TMEDA  is undoubtedly an essential technical asset.