Triethylamine
The tertiary ethylamine supplied by Chelora Chemicals — a workhorse catalytic base and acid scavenger across organic synthesis, and a standard rubber-vulcanisation accelerator activator and polyurethane catalyst — exported from Indonesia with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Triethylamine is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its place as the tertiary member of the ethylamine family, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Triethylamine is a tertiary aliphatic amine: three ethyl groups attached to a nitrogen with no N–H bonds and a freely available lone pair. With no N–H to complicate matters, it behaves as a clean, non-nucleophilic-leaning base rather than a nucleophile in most reactions, which is exactly the property that makes it so widely used — it readily mops up the acid (typically HCl) generated in acylation, sulfonylation and alkylation reactions without itself becoming a competing reactant.
At room temperature it is a colourless, highly flammable, corrosive liquid with a strong ammonia-like odour, miscible with most organic solvents and moderately soluble in water. It is handled with the solvent-class and corrosive-liquid precautions typical of low-boiling amines.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Triethylamine's single largest role is as a catalytic base and acid scavenger in organic synthesis — most commonly in acylation and sulfonylation reactions, where it neutralises the HCl by-product as it forms. Beyond this, it is used as a rubber accelerator activator in vulcanisation chemistry, a catalyst for polyurethane foam and epoxy resin curing, an anti-livering agent for urea- and melamine-based enamels, a corrosion inhibitor and propellant component, a flux additive for copper soldering, and a reagent in quaternary ammonium compound manufacture.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Triethylamine in technical grade (≈99% assay) for standard rubber and formulation chemistry, and high-purity grade (99.5%+) for pharmaceutical and fine-chemical synthesis sensitive to colour and water content. Both grades are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Triethylamine 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.
Triethylamine is manufactured by the catalytic reaction of ethanol and ammonia in the presence of hydrogen over a copper-nickel-clay catalyst at around 165 – 190 °C, with ethylamine and diethylamine forming as co-products: 3 C₂H₅OH + NH₃ → (C₂H₅)₃N + 3 H₂O. The crude reaction mixture is absorbed in ethanol, then separated, dehydrated and fractionated to isolate the triethylamine fraction at the required assay. A related vapour-phase process reacting ammonia with ethanol is also used industrially.
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 process yields no wasted by-product stream.
Industries and processes that use it
Triethylamine is consumed broadly across pharmaceutical and fine-chemical synthesis as an acid scavenger, and by rubber, polyurethane and specialty formulation chemistry. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Catalytic Base & Acid Scavenger
Neutralises the HCl by-product generated in acylation and sulfonylation reactions, a routine role across pharmaceutical and fine-chemical synthesis.
Rubber Accelerator Activator
Used as an activator in rubber vulcanisation accelerator systems, improving cure efficiency in tyre and technical rubber-goods manufacture.
Polyurethane & Epoxy Catalyst
A catalyst for polyurethane foam formation and epoxy resin curing, and a curing/hardening agent for other polymer systems.
Corrosion Inhibitor & Quaternary Ammonium Chemistry
Used as a corrosion inhibitor and propellant component, and as a reagent in quaternary ammonium compound manufacture.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The tertiary amine's non-nucleophilic basicity governs almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Triethylamine is used in a finished synthesis step.
Acid Scavenging in Acylation
Neutralises the HCl generated as an acid chloride reacts with an alcohol or amine, driving the acylation reaction to completion without itself being consumed as a reactant.
Acid Scavenging in Sulfonylation
Performs the same scavenging role in sulfonyl chloride chemistry, a routine step in protecting-group and activation chemistry.
Base Catalysis in Polyurethane Formation
Catalyses the reaction between isocyanates and polyols in polyurethane foam manufacture, accelerating gel and blow reactions.
Quaternisation
Reacts with alkylating agents to give quaternary ammonium salts used in corrosion-inhibitor and specialty surfactant chemistry.
Triethylamine against its mono- and di-ethyl relatives we supply
Buyers sourcing triethylamine often need its primary or secondary relative for a parallel step. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triethylamine | 121-44-8 | Tertiary ethylamine | The product on this page — the trialkylated ethylamine in our range. |
| Ethylamine | 75-04-7 | Primary ethylamine | The monoalkylated relative, co-produced from the same feedstock — see its product page. |
| Diethylamine | 109-89-7 | Secondary ethylamine | The dialkylated relative, co-produced from the same feedstock — see its product page. |
| Trimethylamine | 75-50-3 | Tertiary methylamine | A related tertiary 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 Triethylamine.
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.
Toxic in contact with skin.
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
Toxic 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 GHS06 toxic pictograms apply.
This compound is a highly flammable, corrosive liquid that is toxic in contact with skin or if inhaled, causes severe skin burns and eye damage, and is harmful if swallowed. 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 Triethylamine 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 Triethylamine used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Triethylamine?+
03How is Triethylamine made?+
04What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Triethylamine hazardous?+
06Why is Triethylamine preferred over a primary amine as an acid scavenger?+
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 diethylamine as well?+
Need Triethylamine on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.