Diethyl Sulfate
The industrial ethylating agent supplied by Chelora Chemicals — known in the trade as DES, used under strictly controlled conditions to introduce ethyl groups in dye and fine-chemical synthesis — exported from Indonesia in drums and ISO tanks with full batch documentation and dedicated handling protocols on every shipment.
What Diethyl Sulfate is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its role as a powerful industrial ethylating agent, and the grade Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply, together with the strict handling discipline this chemical requires.
Diethyl Sulfate is the diethyl ester of sulfuric acid, the direct ethyl-group analogue of dimethyl sulfate. Its two ethyl groups are strongly electrophilic and readily transferred to nucleophiles such as amines, phenols and carboxylate ions, giving it the same class of efficient alkylating reactivity as dimethyl sulfate, though generally somewhat less reactive given the larger, more sterically hindered ethyl group.
At room temperature it is a colourless to pale yellow, oily liquid with a faint, peppermint-like odour that, as with dimethyl sulfate, is not a reliable warning of hazardous exposure levels. It reacts slowly with atmospheric moisture to release ethanol and sulfuric acid, and must be stored and handled under strictly controlled, moisture-free, well-ventilated conditions with dedicated engineering controls.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Diethyl Sulfate's primary industrial use, like dimethyl sulfate, is as an ethylating agent in the synthesis of dyes, pharmaceutical intermediates and fine chemicals, where an ethyl group rather than a methyl group is specifically required for the target molecule. It is used only by facilities with the specialised containment, scrubbing and emergency-response infrastructure this reagent requires, strictly under closed-system handling.
Grade we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Diethyl Sulfate in technical/industrial grade (99%+ assay) supplied exclusively to buyers with verified closed-system handling capability and full regulatory authorisation, accompanied by a batch-wise certificate of analysis and complete safety documentation.
How Diethyl Sulfate 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.
Diethyl Sulfate is manufactured by reacting ethanol with sulfur trioxide (or oleum/chlorosulfonic acid, depending on the specific process route) under carefully controlled conditions: 2 C₂H₅OH + SO₃ → (C₂H₅)₂SO₄ + ... (process-specific by-products). The reaction is run in specialised, fully enclosed equipment with integrated scrubbing systems given the product's hazard profile, and the crude product is purified by vacuum distillation.
Why this remains a tightly controlled, specialist manufacturing process
As with dimethyl sulfate, because diethyl sulfate is both the product and, if mishandled, an acute hazard in its own right, its manufacture is run exclusively in dedicated, fully enclosed plant with continuous containment and scrubbing, a very different operating discipline from most of the commodity chemicals in this catalogue.
Industries and processes that use it
Diethyl Sulfate is consumed in specialist fine-chemical and dye methylation (here, ethylation) reactions, always under closed-system, tightly controlled conditions. The fields below account for the demand we see through our export desk, restricted to verified industrial buyers.
Dye & Pigment Intermediate Ethylation
Used to introduce ethyl groups onto amine and phenolic intermediates in dye and pigment synthesis, under closed-system reactor conditions.
Pharmaceutical Intermediate Ethylation
Used in selected pharmaceutical fine-chemical synthesis routes requiring an efficient O- or N-ethylation step, under full regulatory and safety oversight.
Agrochemical Intermediate Ethylation
Used to ethylate selected agrochemical intermediates in closed-system industrial synthesis.
Specialty Fine-Chemical Synthesis
Used in limited specialty fine-chemical ethylation applications under the same strict closed-system handling discipline.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The electrophilic ethyl-sulfate linkage governs almost all of this molecule's reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Diethyl Sulfate is used as an ethylating reagent.
Nucleophilic Ethylation (Primary Reaction)
A nucleophile (amine nitrogen, phenolic oxygen, or similar) attacks an ethyl group on the sulfate centre, transferring the ethyl group and releasing ethyl sulfate anion, the core reaction behind all of DES's industrial uses.
Hydrolysis (Degradation Pathway)
Reacts slowly with atmospheric or adventitious moisture to release ethanol and sulfuric acid, a pathway that must be prevented during storage and handling.
Double Ethylation (Process Chemistry)
Can transfer both ethyl groups sequentially in some reaction schemes, a consideration in reaction stoichiometry and by-product management.
Sulfating Esterification (Upstream)
Ethanol reacts with sulfur trioxide under closed-system conditions to form diethyl sulfate itself, the dominant industrial route in the whole chain.
Diethyl Sulfate against other amines we supply
Buyers sourcing Diethyl Sulfate for verified, closed-system ethylation applications often need the related methylating agent. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list, subject to the same strict handling verification.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diethyl Sulfate | 64-67-5 | Industrial ethylating agent | The product on this page — supplied exclusively to verified closed-system industrial users. |
| Dimethyl Sulfate | 77-78-1 | Industrial methylating agent | The related methylating agent used in similar fine-chemical synthesis — see its product page. |
| Methanol | 67-56-1 | Simplest aliphatic alcohol | The alcohol-chemistry feedstock analogous to the ethanol used for DES — see its product page. |
| Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide) | 1310-73-2 | Industrial alkali | Used for controlled neutralisation/deactivation of DES process streams — 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 Diethyl Sulfate.
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.
Suspected of causing cancer.
Full-face supplied-air respiratory protection, chemical-resistant totally encapsulating suits and closed-system transfer equipment are mandatory — no open handling is permitted.
Toxic by inhalation with effects that can be delayed; any suspected exposure is a medical emergency requiring immediate professional care.
Suspected of causing cancer; exposure must be eliminated through engineering controls, not managed through PPE alone.
Danger — GHS06 acute toxicity and GHS08 carcinogen/health-hazard pictograms apply at high severity.
This compound is toxic if swallowed, in contact with skin, or inhaled, and is suspected of causing cancer, with toxic effects that can be delayed well beyond the time of exposure. It is supplied only to buyers with verified closed-system handling infrastructure, full-face supplied-air respiratory protection, totally encapsulating chemical-resistant suits and dedicated emergency-response capability; open handling of this material is never acceptable. Any suspected exposure is a medical emergency requiring immediate professional care. The complete MSDS issued with every shipment must be read in full, and Chelora Chemicals requires documented proof of appropriate handling capability before supplying this product.
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 only in a dedicated, scrubbed, moisture-free facility designed specifically for high-hazard reactive chemicals, in sealed, corrosion-resistant original packaging, away from moisture, strong bases and amine-containing materials, with continuous vapour monitoring and emergency containment in place. This material must never be stored, handled or transferred outside a facility with documented closed-system capability. If a batch is held past its retest date, professional re-assessment is required before any further 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 Diethyl Sulfate leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by titration/GC), colour and relevant physical constants, 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 of Diethyl Sulfate 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 Diethyl Sulfate used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Diethyl Sulfate?+
03How is Diethyl Sulfate made?+
04What verification does Chelora Chemicals require before supplying this material?+
05How does Diethyl Sulfate differ from Dimethyl Sulfate?+
06Is Diethyl Sulfate hazardous?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply Dimethyl Sulfate as well?+
Need Diethyl Sulfate on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.