Triethylenetetramine
The third member of the ethyleneamine family supplied by Chelora Chemicals — an epoxy resin crosslinker and the parent compound of the Wilson's disease drug trientine — exported from Indonesia with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Triethylenetetramine is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its place as the third member of the ethyleneamine family, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Triethylenetetramine extends the ethyleneamine chain to four nitrogen atoms: two primary amine termini flanking two internal secondary amines along three ethylene bridges. All four nitrogens are nucleophilic and basic, giving the molecule tetradentate chelating capacity — coordinating a metal ion through four donor sites — considerably stronger than diethylenetriamine's tridentate binding.
At room temperature it is a colourless, oily, flammable-range liquid with a fishy, ammonia-like odour; older or poorly stored samples can appear yellowish from air-oxidation impurities. It is fully miscible with water and handled with the same corrosive-liquid and moisture-exclusion precautions used across the ethyleneamine family.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Triethylenetetramine is primarily used as a crosslinker (hardener) for epoxy resins, where its four reactive amine sites give a denser crosslink network than the shorter-chain ethyleneamines. Its hydrochloride salt, known by the pharmaceutical name trientine, is used medically to bind and remove excess copper from the body in the treatment of Wilson's disease, particularly for patients who cannot tolerate penicillamine. In coordination chemistry it acts as a tetradentate ligand, referred to as "trien."
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Triethylenetetramine in technical grade (≈98% assay) for standard epoxy-crosslinker use, 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 Triethylenetetramine 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.
Triethylenetetramine is manufactured by heating ethylenediamine, or mixtures of ethanolamine and ammonia, over an oxide catalyst, building the four-nitrogen chain through sequential condensation and amination steps. The resulting mixture of ethyleneamines is separated by fractional distillation and, where needed, sublimation, with the feedstock ratios and catalyst conditions tuned to control the proportion of each chain length produced.
Why the thermal/catalytic condensation route is favoured at scale
Building the ethyleneamine chain by thermal condensation over an oxide catalyst gives access to the whole homologous series from a shared process, letting the plant shift production toward whichever chain length (ethylenediamine, DETA, TETA or TEPA) current demand favours.
Industries and processes that use it
Triethylenetetramine is consumed chiefly by epoxy-crosslinker manufacture, with a distinctive secondary role in pharmaceutical chemistry via its hydrochloride salt, trientine. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Epoxy Resin Crosslinker
Primarily used as a crosslinker (hardener) for epoxy resins, giving a denser network than shorter-chain ethyleneamine curing agents.
Trientine (Wilson's Disease Drug)
Its hydrochloride salt, trientine, binds and removes excess copper from the body, used to treat Wilson's disease in patients who cannot tolerate penicillamine.
Tetradentate Coordination Chemistry
Acts as a tetradentate ligand ("trien") in coordination chemistry, binding metal ions through four donor nitrogen sites.
Specialty Chemical Intermediate
Used in further specialty chemical synthesis wherever a four-nitrogen aliphatic amine chain is required.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The four nucleophilic nitrogen sites govern almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Triethylenetetramine is converted into a finished intermediate or used directly.
Epoxide Ring-Opening (Crosslinking)
Each of the four amine sites opens an epoxide ring in turn, crosslinking epoxy resin into a dense thermoset network.
Salt Formation to Trientine
Neutralisation with hydrochloric acid gives the trientine hydrochloride salt used as a copper-chelating pharmaceutical.
Tetradentate Metal Chelation
The four nitrogens together coordinate a metal ion through four donor sites at once, the mechanism behind trientine's copper-binding action.
Chain Extension to Tetraethylenepentamine
Under the same process conditions used in its own manufacture, triethylenetetramine can react further to build tetraethylenepentamine.
Triethylenetetramine against the other members of the ethyleneamine chain we supply
Buyers sourcing triethylenetetramine for epoxy crosslinking often need a shorter or longer-chain ethyleneamine for a different cure profile. A quick reference to the full homologous series in our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triethylenetetramine | 112-24-3 | Tetramine (4 N) | The product on this page — the third member of the ethyleneamine family, used as an epoxy crosslinker. |
| Ethylenediamine | 107-15-3 | Diamine (2 N) | The founding member of the chain — see its product page. |
| Diethylenetriamine | 111-40-0 | Triamine (3 N) | The second member of the chain, a common epoxy curing agent — see its product page. |
| Tetraethylenepentamine | 112-57-2 | Pentamine (5 N) | The longest-chain member we supply, used as an epoxy hardener — 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 Triethylenetetramine.
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 in contact with skin.
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
May cause an allergic skin reaction.
Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
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 corrosivity and ammoniacal odour.
Avoid any release to drains or waterways given its aquatic toxicity profile.
Danger — GHS05 corrosive and GHS07 harmful pictograms apply.
This compound causes severe skin burns and eye damage, may cause an allergic skin reaction, is harmful in contact with skin, and is harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. It must be handled with impervious gloves and splash-proof eye protection in a well-ventilated area, kept well away from drains and waterways. 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, dark, well-ventilated area in tightly closed original packaging, protected from moisture and prolonged air exposure given its tendency to yellow on storage, and 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 Triethylenetetramine leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by titration), 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 Triethylenetetramine used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Triethylenetetramine?+
03How is Triethylenetetramine made?+
04What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Triethylenetetramine hazardous?+
06What is trientine, and how does it relate to this compound?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply the other ethyleneamines as well?+
Need Triethylenetetramine on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.