Meta Toluidine
The meta toluidine isomer, supplied by Chelora Chemicals as a dye intermediate and cyanoacrylate adhesive component — exported from Indonesia with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Meta Toluidine is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its place in the aniline-derivative family, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Meta Toluidine places its methyl group across the ring from the amino group, in the same relative position that gives Meta Chloroaniline its character elsewhere in our range: an unhindered, fully accessible amine with none of the steric complications a neighbouring substituent would bring. It is worth stating plainly, given its close relationship to Ortho Toluidine: this substance has not been evaluated by IARC at all — that is a different thing from a Group 3 "not classifiable" finding, which at least implies a review took place. No carcinogen classification, harmonised or otherwise, was found for this substance in the sources we checked.
It is a liquid at ambient temperature, colourless to yellow when fresh and darkening on exposure to air and light, consistent with the whole toluidine family. Its freezing point of −30 °C means it stays liquid and pumpable through any normal storage or transit condition, more forgiving than its ortho relative. It is only slightly soluble in water and dissolves readily in common organic solvents.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Meta Toluidine is used as a dye-industry intermediate — feeding azo dyes including shades such as Allura Red AC and carmoisine-type colourants — and as a component of accelerator systems in cyanoacrylate ("super glue") adhesive formulation. It is a lower-volume isomer than ortho or para, produced as part of the same mixed toluene-nitration chemistry that supplies the family, with demand concentrated in these two established outlets.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Meta Toluidine in technical grade (99%) and high-purity grade (99.5%+), both with a batch-wise certificate of analysis. As with the other toluidines, isomer purity is usually the specification line that matters most to dye-industry buyers, since ortho or para carryover diazotizes and couples alongside the intended material and shows up as shade variation.
How Meta Toluidine 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.
Meta Toluidine is made by nitrating toluene, separating the meta-nitrotoluene fraction from the dominant ortho and para isomers, and reducing it to the amine by catalytic hydrogenation or an equivalent chemical reduction.
Toluene nitration gives only a small proportion of the meta nitro isomer relative to ortho and para, so the separation step is where the real cost and difficulty of this product sits, much as it does for Meta Chloroaniline elsewhere in our range — though the underlying nitration chemistry differs between the two families.
After reduction the amine is washed and distilled to remove isomeric carryover and catalyst residues before packing.
Why isomer purity matters more here than the headline assay
Because the meta nitro isomer is the minor fraction of toluene nitration, separation quality — not the straightforward reduction step that follows — is what sets this product's real purity. Ortho or para toluidine carryover reacts right alongside the intended material in diazotization and coupling chemistry, and given how differently the ortho isomer in particular is regulated, buyers should treat the isomer purity figure on the certificate of analysis as the number that matters most.
Industries and processes that use it
Meta Toluidine is consumed almost entirely as a synthesis intermediate. The four fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Azo Dyes
A dye-industry intermediate for azo colourants, including dyes in the Allura Red and carmoisine shade families.
Cyanoacrylate Adhesives
A component of accelerator systems used in cyanoacrylate ("super glue") adhesive formulation.
General Synthesis
Used more broadly as an unhindered aromatic amine building block in organic synthesis.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
With the methyl group well away from the amino group, the nitrogen behaves much like aniline itself — the reactions below run readily and without the steric complication of the ortho isomer.
Diazotization
Nitrous acid generated in situ below 5 °C converts the amine to the diazonium salt.
Azo Coupling
The diazonium salt couples with an electron-rich aromatic partner to build the azo chromophore of a dye.
Acylation
Reaction with an acid chloride or anhydride gives the anilide, used in general intermediate synthesis.
Meta Toluidine against its near relatives
The three toluidine isomers share a formula and a close structural relationship, but their regulatory status could not be more different. The table below sets that out plainly before anything else.
| Product | CAS Number | Typically Used In | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Toluidine | 108-44-1 | Dye intermediates, cyanoacrylate adhesive chemistry | The product on this page. No CMR classification found. |
| Ortho Toluidine | 95-53-4 | Rubber chemicals, dyes, metolachlor/acetochlor | Also supplied — see its product page. IARC Group 1, the most severe classification in our range. |
| Para Toluidine | 106-49-0 | Dye and pigment intermediates, adhesive chemistry | Also supplied — see its product page. EU Category 2 carcinogen. |
| Aniline | 62-53-3 | MDI/polyurethane, rubber chemicals, dyes | The unmethylated parent compound — 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 rather than a specification sheet.
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.
Toxic if swallowed.
Toxic in contact with skin.
Toxic if inhaled.
Causes serious eye irritation.
May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
Very toxic to aquatic life.
Danger — GHS06 toxic, GHS08 health hazard and GHS09 environment pictograms apply.
No harmonised Annex VI entry was located for this substance, so the classification above reflects registrant self-classification. It carries no carcinogen or mutagen classification, harmonised or otherwise, in the sources we checked — distinct from Ortho Toluidine's IARC Group 1 status, and worth stating clearly since the two are easily confused by name alone. It remains acutely toxic by all three exposure routes and causes organ damage on repeated exposure; handle with gloves, eye protection and adequate ventilation.
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, protected from light, in tightly closed original containers away from oxidizers and strong acids. This is the most forgiving of the toluidines to warehouse: a freezing point of −30 °C means it stays liquid and pumpable at any normal storage temperature. Expect progressive darkening on exposure to air and light; this is a colour change rather than an assay change.
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 Meta Toluidine leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by GC), isomer purity, melting point range and moisture, 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 Meta Toluidine used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Meta Toluidine?+
03What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
04Is Meta Toluidine hazardous?+
05Is this the same compound as Ortho Toluidine, just with a different name?+
06What packing options are available?+
07How long does delivery take?+
08Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
09How is Meta Toluidine manufactured?+
10What is the shelf life, and how should it be stored?+
Need Meta Toluidine on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.