What Is Triethylenetetramine?
Triethylenetetramine (TETA) is an organic compound, a primary amine with the chemical formula C6H18N4.
It is also known as 3,6-diazaoctane-1,8-diyl diamine and trientine. It has a molecular weight of 146.23, a melting point of 12 °C, a boiling point of 266–267 °C, and appears as a colorless to slightly light yellow liquid at room temperature.
It has a density of 0.982 g/mL and is extremely soluble in water and soluble in ethanol and acetone.
Uses of Triethylenetetramine
Triethylenetetramine is utilized as an anti-wrinkle agent, surfactant, and dye-fixing agent in textile products. It is also widely used as a curing agent in epoxy resins, paper wet-strengthening agent, fungicide, insecticide, herbicide, chelating agent, coating agent, adhesive, fungicide additive in lubricants and cutting oils, ion exchange resin, and rubber chemicals (vulcanization accelerator).
Furthermore, triethylenetetramine dichloride serves as a chelating agent for copper, promoting urinary excretion of copper, and is used in treating Wilson’s disease, a disorder of copper metabolism.
Properties of Triethylenetetramine
Triethylenetetramine is synthesized by heating a mixture of ethylenediamine or ethanolamine and ammonia over an oxide catalyst. This synthetic method yields a variety of amines, including triethylenetetramine.
Triethylenetetramine is a colorless, oily liquid that turns yellow when old due to impurities from air oxidation, a common characteristic of many amines. Commercial samples may contain branched isomers tris(2-aminoethyl)amine and piperazine.
Types of Triethylenetetramine
Primarily sold as a reagent product for research and development, triethylenetetramine is available in 10 mL, 25 mL, 50 mL, and 500 mL volumes, facilitating easy handling in laboratory conditions.
Note that some products are sold as ethyleneamine mixtures.
Other Information on Triethylenetetramine
1. Triethylenetetramine as a Chelating Agent
As a tetradentate ligand in coordination chemistry, known as triene, triethylenetetramine is particularly recognized for its selective chelating action on copper (II). It forms M (trien) L2-type octahedral complexes and can assume various diastereomeric structures.
2. Medical Uses of Triethylenetetramine
Triethylenetetramine hydrochloride is effective in treating Wilson’s disease, where inorganic copper accumulates due to metabolic disorders. It is specifically administered for patients with a poor response to penicillamine or for whom administration is undesirable.
Various hydrochlorides of triethylenetetramine, including dihydrochloride and tetrahydrochloride, are used in different countries as specific treatments.
3. Regulatory Information on Triethylenetetramine
With a flash point of 138 °C, triethylenetetramine is classified under various regulatory laws and should be treated to reduce its hazardous level before disposal.