What Is Triethylamine Hydrochloride?
Triethylamine hydrochloride is a salt (ammonium salt) formed when triethylamine, a strongly basic organic amine (tertiary amine), is reacted with hydrochloric acid.
The original triethylamine is a liquid that mixes with organic solvents, while the hydrochloride salt is a solid that is highly water soluble. Also known as triethylammonium chloride, its chemical formula is (C2H5)3N – HCl and its CAS number is 554-68-7.
It is usually present as a white solid and is characterized by a slight amine odor.
Uses of Triethylamine Hydrochloride
Triethylamine hydrochloride is mainly used as a raw material for organic synthesis of pharmaceuticals and dyes. For example, triethylamine is liberated using a strong base, which is then reacted with other molecules. It is also used as an ion-pair reagent in ion-pair extraction, in which an aggregate is formed with an acidic substance and extracted into an organic solvent (ion-pair extraction), because it has three hydrophobic ethyl groups and is a strong base.
As in extraction, it can also be used in ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). As in extraction, ion-pair reagents are used to form ion pairs by associating with acidic substances to allow analysis of water-soluble acidic substances by reversed-phase HPLC. However, tetraethylammonium hydrochloride, a quaternary ammonium salt that is more effective in HPLC, is increasingly being used.
In liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), where volatility is important, more volatile reagents, such as triethylamine acetate are sometimes used. Triethylamine Hydrochloride is relatively inexpensive compared to these ion-pair reagents. It is also used as a comparison reagent for sodium chloride in biochemical experiments to study the effects of sodium ions because of its weakly acidic to neutral liquid properties.
Properties of Triethylamine Hydrochloride
Triethylamine hydrochloride is a white solid (crystalline or crystalline powder). It is soluble in water and ethanol, but not in ether. It is particularly soluble in water.
Aqueous solutions range from near neutral to slightly acidic, with a pH of 3.0-6.0 at a concentration of 50 g/L. Its melting point is not considered definite, and it decomposes at about 260°C when heated.
The powder is tidally soluble, so care should be taken with humidity when storing and handling. In addition, light shielding is essential when storing the product, as it may be altered by light.
Other Information on Triethylamine Hydrochloride
1. Manufacturing Process of Triethylamine Hydrochloride
Triethylamine Hydrochloride is produced by chemical synthesis. It is generally synthesized by alkylating ammonia with ethanol to obtain triethylamine, which is then converted to hydrochloride.
2. Applicable Laws and Regulations for Triethylamine Hydrochloride
It is known to be corrosive and irritating to skin, severely damaging to eyes, and irritating to eyes.
However, as a general precaution for chemical substances, dust-protective masks and protective gloves should be worn and the product should be handled in an environment with local exhaust ventilation. It is also important to avoid mixing with strong oxidizers, as they react violently.
In the event of a fire, complete combustion produces carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, and simultaneously hydrogen chloride gas. Thermal decomposition may also generate amine and ammonia, both of which are harmful to the human body.
Triethylamine hydrochloride may produce triethylamine. Because triethylamine is harmful to the aquatic environment, disposal of triethylamine hydrochloride must also be conducted in such a way that there is no environmental release.