N-Methylethanolamine
The secondary alkanolamine supplied by Chelora Chemicals — a solvent and solubiliser in gas treating and coatings, and the key intermediate behind sarcosine and several pharmaceutical actives — exported from Indonesia with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What N-Methylethanolamine is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its place as a secondary alkanolamine, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
N-Methylethanolamine combines a secondary amine (one N–H bond, one methyl group) with a terminal hydroxyl two carbons away, giving it the dual reactivity typical of alkanolamines: the nitrogen is nucleophilic and moderately basic, while the hydroxyl can be esterified, etherified or oxidised independently. The two functional groups are close enough to participate together in ring-forming and chelating chemistry, but far enough apart that each can also be addressed selectively.
At room temperature it is a colourless, viscous liquid with an ammoniacal odour, fully miscible with water and most polar organic solvents. It is handled with the solvent-class precautions typical of alkanolamines, with added corrosivity caution given its skin and eye hazard profile.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
N-Methylethanolamine is used as a solvent in natural gas processing, and as a solubiliser and stabiliser in water- and solvent-based paints and coatings; it also serves as a cation neutraliser and chain extender in cathodic dip-coating (electrodeposition) processes. As a chemical intermediate, it is the precursor to sarcosine (N-methylglycine), to choline and dimethylaminoethanol via further methylation routes, to N-methylaziridine, and to pharmaceutical actives including the antidepressant mianserin and the analgesic nefopam. It is also used as a brightener when bleaching cotton-polyester fabric blends.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers N-Methylethanolamine in technical grade (≈98% assay) for standard coatings and gas-treating applications, and high-purity grade (99%+) for pharmaceutical-intermediate synthesis sensitive to colour and trace-impurity content. Both grades are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How N-Methylethanolamine is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
N-Methylethanolamine is manufactured by reacting ethylene oxide with an excess of methylamine (typically more than two-fold excess) in aqueous solution within a continuous-flow reactor: C₂H₄O + CH₃NH₂ → CH₃NHCH₂CH₂OH. The excess of methylamine favours the mono-substituted product over the di-substituted by-product, methyldiethanolamine, which still forms in smaller quantity and is separated by fractional distillation after the excess methylamine and water are removed.
Why the ethylene oxide/methylamine route is preferred
Direct alkoxylation of methylamine with ethylene oxide is continuous and scalable, and using an excess of methylamine keeps the mono-substituted product as the major fraction, giving good overall yield with a straightforward downstream purification.
Industries and processes that use it
N-Methylethanolamine is consumed by gas-treating, coatings and pharmaceutical-intermediate chemistry. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Natural Gas Treating Solvent
Used as a solvent component in natural gas processing, drawing on its amine basicity for acid-gas interaction.
Coatings Solubiliser & Cathodic Dip-Coating Agent
A solubiliser and stabiliser in water- and solvent-based paints and coatings, and a cation neutraliser and chain extender in cathodic dip-coating.
Pharmaceutical Intermediate Chemistry
A precursor to sarcosine, choline, dimethylaminoethanol, N-methylaziridine, and pharmaceutical actives including mianserin and nefopam.
Textile Brightening Agent
Used as a brightener when bleaching cotton-polyester fabric blends.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The secondary amine's nucleophilicity and the independent hydroxyl group govern almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways N-Methylethanolamine is converted into a finished intermediate.
N-Methylation to Choline-Type Products
Further methylation of the nitrogen gives dimethylaminoethanol and, ultimately, choline-type quaternary products.
Oxidation to Sarcosine
Oxidation of the hydroxymethyl terminus gives sarcosine (N-methylglycine), an amino acid derivative used in surfactant and personal-care chemistry.
Ring Closure to N-Methylaziridine
Intramolecular cyclisation gives N-methylaziridine, a reactive three-membered-ring intermediate used in further specialty synthesis.
Amide / Pharmaceutical Intermediate Formation
Serves as the amine component in condensation sequences toward pharmaceutical actives such as mianserin and nefopam.
N-Methylethanolamine against other alkanolamines we supply
Buyers sourcing this secondary alkanolamine often need a related tertiary or hybrid alkanolamine for a parallel step. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| N-Methylethanolamine | 109-83-1 | Secondary alkanolamine | The product on this page — the mono-N-methylated ethanolamine in our range. |
| N,N-Dimethylethanolamine | 108-01-0 | Tertiary alkanolamine | The fully N-methylated relative, used in gas treating and coatings — see its product page. |
| N,N-Diethylethanolamine | 100-37-8 | Tertiary alkanolamine | The N,N-diethylated relative, used in pharmaceutical and gas-treating chemistry — see its product page. |
| Aminoethylethanolamine | 111-41-1 | Hybrid alkanolamine | A related hybrid amine/alkanolamine elsewhere in our range — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than N-Methylethanolamine.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Harmful if swallowed.
Harmful in contact with skin.
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
Impervious gloves, chemical splash goggles or a face shield are the baseline for routine handling.
Use in a well-ventilated area given the compound's ammoniacal odour and corrosive nature.
Avoid any release to drains or waterways as a general amine-handling precaution.
Keep away from strong oxidising agents and strong acids.
Danger — GHS05 corrosive and GHS07 harmful pictograms apply.
This compound causes severe skin burns and eye damage, and is harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin. It must be handled with impervious gloves and splash-proof eye protection in a well-ventilated area. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, in tightly closed original packaging, segregated from strong oxidizing agents and strong acids. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay, colour and water content before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of N-Methylethanolamine leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by GC), colour and water content, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is N-Methylethanolamine used for?+
02What is the CAS number of N-Methylethanolamine?+
03How is N-Methylethanolamine made?+
04What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is N-Methylethanolamine hazardous?+
06What is the difference between this and N,N-Dimethylethanolamine?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply other alkanolamines as well?+
Need N-Methylethanolamine on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.