Methyl Ethyl Aniline
A fully N,N-dialkylated tertiary aniline supplied by Chelora Chemicals as a dye-coupling and fine-chemical intermediate — exported from Indonesia in technical and high-purity grades, with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Methyl Ethyl Aniline is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, how its tertiary-amine structure sets it apart from a typical aniline building block, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Methyl Ethyl Aniline — N-ethyl-N-methylaniline — is a tertiary aromatic amine: both hydrogens of the parent aniline's N–H₂ group have been replaced, one with a methyl group and one with an ethyl group. With no N–H left, this molecule behaves very differently from the primary anilines elsewhere in our range. It cannot be diazotized and it cannot be acylated at nitrogen; instead, the strongly electron-donating N,N-dialkylamino group activates the aromatic ring itself, directing electrophiles overwhelmingly to the position para to nitrogen. This is the same reactivity pattern that makes N,N-dimethylaniline a textbook electrophilic-substitution substrate, and it is exactly why this molecule is valued industrially: the ring, not the nitrogen, is the reactive site.
At room temperature it is a colorless to light yellow, mobile liquid. It is miscible with common organic solvents (ethanol, acetone, toluene) and only sparingly soluble in water, consistent with its lipophilic N,N-dialkylaniline structure.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Because the nitrogen is already fully substituted, this compound is used as a coupling component rather than a diazotizable aniline: a diazonium salt generated from a different primary amine is coupled onto the ring of this molecule, at the position para to the dialkylamino group, to build the azo chromophore of a basic or solvent dye. The same para-directing reactivity is exploited in Vilsmeier formylation and related electrophilic substitution chemistry used in fine-chemical synthesis.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Methyl Ethyl Aniline in technical grade (≈95% assay) for standard industrial synthesis, and high-purity grade (99%+) for applications sensitive to colour body or trace metal content. Both grades are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis so your incoming QC team can verify the parameters you ordered against.
How Methyl Ethyl Aniline 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-Ethyl-N-methylaniline is built by the sequential N-alkylation of aniline. Industrially this is most often carried out as a two-stage alkylation: aniline is first N-ethylated — using ethanol under a dehydrogenation/hydrogenation (“borrowing hydrogen”) catalyst, or with ethylating agents such as ethyl chloride or diethyl sulfate — to give N-ethylaniline, which is then N-methylated in a second step, typically by vapor-phase reaction with methanol over a solid acid or metal-oxide catalyst, to give the N-ethyl-N-methyl tertiary amine.
An alternative, single-stage approach runs aniline together with a methanol/ethanol mixture over a fixed-bed alkylation catalyst (commonly alumina- or silica-alumina-based) at elevated temperature, alkylating the nitrogen with both groups in a continuous vapor-phase process. Whichever route is used, over-alkylation and ring-alkylation are the main side reactions to control, since both methylating and ethylating agents can also attack the aromatic ring under the same conditions.
After alkylation, the crude product is washed, neutralized and vacuum-distilled to separate it from unreacted aniline, mono-alkylated intermediates (N-ethylaniline, N-methylaniline) and any ring-alkylated by-products before drying and packing. This distillation cut is where technical grade and high-purity grade material part ways.
Why complete N,N-dialkylation matters
Residual mono-N-alkylaniline (still bearing one N–H) behaves chemically more like a primary or secondary amine — it can still be diazotized or acylated — so even small amounts carried into a dye-coupling batch can produce off-shade by-products. This is why N–H content, not just bulk GC assay, is checked on every batch of this product before release.
Industries and processes that use it
Methyl Ethyl Aniline is consumed almost entirely as a dye-coupling component and fine-chemical building block. The fields below account for most of the global demand we see through our export desk.
Dye Coupling Component
The principal application: as a strongly ring-activated, N,N-dialkylated aniline, it is used as the coupling component in azo dye synthesis, reacting with a diazonium salt at the position para to nitrogen to build basic and solvent dye chromophores.
Pharmaceutical & Fine-Chemical Intermediates
Used as a building block in pharmaceutical and fine-chemical synthesis routes that exploit its strongly activated aromatic ring, including Vilsmeier-type formylation chemistry.
UV Absorber & Specialty Intermediates
The N,N-dialkylaniline core is used in the synthesis of specialty light-stabilizer and UV-absorbing compounds built on an activated-aniline chromophore.
Rubber & Polymer Chemical Intermediates
Carried forward into rubber-chemical and polymer-additive intermediates in some regional supply chains, where N,N-dialkylaniline derivatives contribute to antioxidant-type structures.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
With no N–H remaining, the nitrogen itself is unreactive toward acylation and diazotization. Instead, the strongly electron-donating N,N-dialkylamino group activates the aromatic ring, and reaction classes below account for most of the ways this molecule is used downstream.
Electrophilic Azo Coupling
A diazonium salt generated from a separate primary aromatic amine attacks the ring of this molecule at the position para to the dialkylamino group (or ortho, if para is blocked), building the azo (–N=N–) chromophore characteristic of basic and solvent dyes.
Vilsmeier–Haack Formylation
Under Vilsmeier conditions (a formamide/phosphoryl chloride complex), the activated ring undergoes electrophilic formylation, installing an aldehyde group para to the dialkylamino substituent — a route used in fine-chemical and intermediate synthesis.
Nitrosation
Treatment with nitrous acid gives the para-nitroso derivative, exploiting the same strong ring activation; this is the classical reaction used to confirm N,N-dialkylaniline structure and is also used preparatively in some synthesis routes.
Friedel–Crafts Reactions
The strongly activated ring can undergo Friedel–Crafts alkylation or acylation under suitable Lewis-acid catalysis, again directed to the para position, for further fine-chemical elaboration.
Methyl Ethyl Aniline against other alkylated and halogenated anilines we supply
Buyers sourcing this coupling-component intermediate often need a related primary or alkylated aniline for a neighbouring step in the same process. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methyl Ethyl Aniline | 613-97-8 | N,N-dialkylated tertiary arylamine | The product on this page — our regularly stocked dye-coupling grade. |
| Ortho Ethyl Aniline | 578-54-1 | Ring-alkylated primary arylamine | A diazotizable primary-amine alkylaniline — see its product page. |
| 2,4-Dichloroaniline | 554-00-7 | Dichlorinated primary arylamine | A diazotizable chlorinated analogue in a related intermediate class — see its product page. |
| 4-Fluoro-N-Isopropylaniline | 70441-63-3 | Mono-fluorinated secondary arylamine | An acylatable N-alkyl fluoroaniline used in herbicide synthesis — 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 Methyl Ethyl Aniline.
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, in contact with skin or if inhaled.
Causes skin irritation.
Causes serious eye irritation.
Toxic pictogram applies to this classification.
H301+H311+H331: a single combined acute-toxicity classification covering all three exposure routes.
Store sealed, away from heat; light- and air-sensitive over time.
Danger — GHS06 toxic and GHS07 exclamation-mark pictograms apply.
Handle with chemical-resistant gloves, eye/face protection and adequate ventilation or respiratory protection; this is a more acutely toxic classification than the primary alkylanilines in our range, so avoid skin contact and inhalation of vapour or mist in particular. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment.
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 cool, in a dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, in tightly closed original packaging, segregated from strong oxidizing and acidic materials. Given its acute-toxicity classification, ensure containers are opened only with the PPE and ventilation specified in the MSDS. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay and colour before it goes into a process.
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 Methyl Ethyl Aniline leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by GC), colour, N–H (residual mono-alkylaniline) content 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 downstream chemistry, 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 Methyl Ethyl Aniline used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Methyl Ethyl Aniline?+
03What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
04Is Methyl Ethyl Aniline hazardous?+
05Why can't Methyl Ethyl Aniline be diazotized like a typical aniline?+
06What packing options are available?+
07How long does delivery take?+
08Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
09Do you supply other alkylated anilines?+
10How is Methyl Ethyl Aniline manufactured?+
Need Methyl Ethyl Aniline on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.