Diethylamine
The secondary ethylamine supplied by Chelora Chemicals — the key precursor to the corrosion inhibitor N,N-diethylaminoethanol and to a wide range of rubber-chemical and pesticide intermediates — exported from Indonesia with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Diethylamine is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its place as the secondary member of the ethylamine family, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Diethylamine is a secondary aliphatic amine: two ethyl groups attached to a nitrogen carrying a single N–H bond and a lone pair. It is a somewhat stronger base than its primary relative, ethylamine, and remains an effective nucleophile toward alkylating agents, epoxides and carbonyl electrophiles, while being less prone to over-alkylation than a primary amine in some reaction sequences because only one N–H remains available.
At room temperature it is a colourless, flammable, highly volatile liquid with a strong ammonia-like odour; commercial material can take on a brown tinge from trace impurities. It is handled with the same solvent-class precautions as other low-boiling aliphatic amines.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Diethylamine's largest single application is the manufacture of N,N-diethylaminoethanol, made by reacting it with ethylene oxide; this compound is widely used as a corrosion inhibitor, particularly in oilfield and boiler-water treatment. Diethylamine is also a precursor to a wide range of other commercial products, including the globally familiar insect repellent DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), and is used broadly in chemical synthesis for Mannich reactions, N-alkylation chemistry and the formation of silylamide reagents.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Diethylamine in technical grade (≈99% assay) for standard corrosion-inhibitor and pesticide-intermediate synthesis, and high-purity grade (99.5%+) for applications sensitive to colour and water content. Both grades are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Diethylamine 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.
Diethylamine is manufactured by the alumina-catalysed reaction of ethanol with ammonia at elevated temperature, obtained together with ethylamine and triethylamine from the same feed stream: 2 C₂H₅OH + NH₃ → (C₂H₅)₂NH + 2 H₂O. Combined global production of the three ethylamines runs to roughly 80,000 tonnes per year. The crude amine mixture is separated by fractional distillation, exploiting the different boiling points of the three products, and the diethylamine fraction is purified to the required assay before packing.
Why the ethanol/ammonia route is preferred
Catalytic amination of ethanol is continuous, scalable, and economically efficient because all three ethylamine co-products — mono-, di- and tri-ethylamine — have established commercial markets, so the reaction yields no wasted by-product stream.
Industries and processes that use it
Diethylamine is consumed by corrosion-inhibitor, insect-repellent and general organic-synthesis chemistry. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Corrosion Inhibitor Intermediate
Reaction with ethylene oxide gives N,N-diethylaminoethanol, a widely used corrosion inhibitor in oilfield and boiler-water treatment.
Insect Repellent (DEET) Precursor
A precursor to N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), the most widely used active ingredient in insect repellent formulations worldwide.
Mannich & N-Alkylation Chemistry
Used broadly in organic synthesis for Mannich reactions and N-alkylation chemistry across fine-chemical manufacture.
Silylamide Reagent Formation
Converted to lithium or sodium diethylamide and related silylamide reagents used as strong, non-nucleophilic bases in synthesis.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The secondary amine's balance of nucleophilicity and steric bulk governs almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Diethylamine is converted into a finished intermediate.
Epoxide Ring-Opening
Reaction with ethylene oxide opens the epoxide ring to give N,N-diethylaminoethanol directly, the basis of its largest industrial use.
Amide Formation
Reacts with acid chlorides such as m-toluoyl chloride to give the corresponding N,N-diethylamide, the key step in DEET manufacture.
Mannich Reaction
Condenses with an aldehyde and an enolisable carbonyl compound in the classical Mannich three-component reaction, widely used in pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis.
Metalation to Silylamides
Deprotonation with a strong base gives lithium diethylamide and related reagents used to generate silylamide bases in synthesis.
Diethylamine against its mono- and tri-ethyl relatives we supply
Buyers sourcing diethylamine often need its primary or tertiary relative for a parallel step. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diethylamine | 109-89-7 | Secondary ethylamine | The product on this page — the dialkylated ethylamine in our range. |
| Ethylamine | 75-04-7 | Primary ethylamine | The monoalkylated relative, co-produced from the same feedstock — see its product page. |
| Triethylamine | 121-44-8 | Tertiary ethylamine | The trialkylated relative, co-produced from the same feedstock — see its product page. |
| n-Butylamine | 109-73-9 | Primary butylamine | A related primary aliphatic amine 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 Diethylamine.
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.
Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
Harmful if swallowed.
Harmful in contact with skin.
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
Harmful if inhaled.
Impervious gloves, chemical splash goggles or a face shield, and suitable respiratory protection are the baseline for routine handling.
Highly flammable; keep away from open flames, sparks, static discharge and other ignition sources, and bond/ground containers during transfer.
Danger — GHS02 flammable, GHS05 corrosive and GHS07 harmful pictograms apply.
This compound is a highly flammable, corrosive liquid; it causes severe skin burns and eye damage and is harmful if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled. It must be handled with impervious gloves, splash-proof eye protection and suitable respiratory protection in a well-ventilated area, kept away from all ignition sources. 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 away from direct sunlight, open flames and other ignition sources, 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 Diethylamine 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 Diethylamine used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Diethylamine?+
03How is Diethylamine made?+
04What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Diethylamine hazardous?+
06Is Diethylamine the same as DEET?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply ethylamine and triethylamine as well?+
Need Diethylamine on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.