Meta Toluidine
Meta Toluidine — m-toluidine or 3-methylaniline — is the least discussed of the three toluidine isomers, but a genuinely useful one: a methylaniline building block for dye, rubber-chemical and fine-synthesis routes that call for the 1,3-substitution pattern, without the carcinogenicity classification that shapes handling of its ortho isomer.
Chelora Chemicals supplies m-toluidine to dye houses, rubber chemical producers and fine chemical manufacturers worldwide, in drums, IBCs and tank quantities, with a batch COA and GHS safety data sheet on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 108-44-1
- IUPAC name
- 3-Methylaniline
- Molecular formula
- C7H9N
- Molecular weight
- 107.15 g/mol
- EC / EINECS
- 203-583-1
- SMILES
- Cc1cccc(N)c1
- HS Code
- 2921 43*
* Confirm the exact HS heading with your customs broker — classification of toluidine isomers varies between destination tariffs.
What Meta Toluidine is used for
Meta Toluidine is aniline carrying a methyl group meta to the amino group. The methyl substituent is a mild activator with no strong directing conflict at the nitrogen, so the amine diazotises, acylates and condenses much as aniline itself does — but with the extra ring carbon that a 1,3-methylaniline pattern gives downstream chemists building dyes, rubber intermediates and fine chemicals that specifically require that substitution geometry.
In practice m-toluidine is a lower-volume intermediate than its ortho and para isomers, produced and consumed mainly against specific dye, agrochemical and pharmaceutical synthesis routes rather than as a general-purpose commodity amine.
Why the isomer matters
The three toluidine isomers are separate molecules with different hazard profiles and different uses, and a substitution downstream is not recoverable:
- 3-Methylaniline (CAS 108-44-1) — this product. Methyl meta to the amine. Not classified as a carcinogen — a real distinction from its ortho isomer.
- 2-Methylaniline / ortho toluidine (CAS 95-53-4) — the ortho isomer, an IARC Group 1 confirmed human carcinogen, dominant in rubber-chemical volume.
- 4-Methylaniline / para toluidine (CAS 106-49-0) — the para isomer, a solid at room temperature, carrying its own Category 2 carcinogenicity classification and heavy use in dye chemistry.
If your purchase order simply says "toluidine", quote us the CAS number and we will confirm the correct material before the order is placed. We supply all three isomers, as well as related chloroanilines, nitroanilines and anisidines — see our full product catalogue.
Appearance and handling character
m-Toluidine ships as a colourless to pale yellow liquid with a melting point around −30 °C, so it stays liquid through virtually every transport and storage condition worldwide. It is only sparingly soluble in water and miscible with most organic solvents. Like other primary aromatic amines it darkens on prolonged exposure to air and light, drifting from colourless toward amber. Read the safety section before planning any handling programme: this material is an acute toxicant with a combustible flash point, and its toxicity is comparable to that of its ortho isomer even though it does not share the same carcinogenicity classification.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless to pale yellow liquid |
| Assay (GC) | 99.0% min |
| Water content (KF) | 0.3% max |
| Colour (APHA) | 50 max |
| Total isomeric impurities | 1.0% max |
| Specific gravity | Reported per batch |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial grade material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document. If your process demands a tighter assay, a specific isomer limit or a colour ceiling, send us the specification and we will quote against it rather than against a generic grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Liquid at ambient |
| Melting point | ≈ −30 °C |
| Boiling point | ≈ 203 – 204 °C |
| Flash point | ≈ 86 °C (closed cup) |
| Relative density | ≈ 0.989 (20 °C) |
| Refractive index | ≈ 1.567 |
| Water solubility | Sparingly soluble |
| Organic solubility | Miscible with alcohols, ethers & most organic solvents |
| Odour | Amine-like |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 108-44-1 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this molecule to work
m-Toluidine is a specialist rather than a general-purpose intermediate. Its demand sits in dye chemistry, rubber intermediates, and fine synthesis routes that specifically call for the meta-methylaniline pattern.
Dyes & specialty pigments
Diazotised m-toluidine couples onto naphthol and pyrazolone components to build azo dyes and specialty pigments where the meta-methyl pattern is specifically required for the target shade.
- Diazo component in azo dye chemistry
- Isomer purity shows up directly as off-shade
- See also para toluidine
Rubber & antioxidant intermediates
m-Toluidine serves as a building block in select rubber-chemical and antioxidant synthesis routes, complementing the higher-volume ortho isomer used more widely in that sector.
- Amine intermediate chemistry
- Specialty rubber additive synthesis
- Not carcinogen-classified, unlike o-toluidine
Agrochemical intermediates
The 3-methylphenylamine fragment is used in the synthesis of select herbicide and crop-protection actives where the meta-substitution pattern is part of the target structure.
- Substituted amide and urea chemistry
- Custom agrochemical intermediate synthesis
- See our agrochemical intermediate range
Pharmaceutical intermediates
A 3-methylphenyl fragment appears in several pharmaceutical synthesis routes, installed through amide formation, ring construction or N-arylation using m-toluidine as the starting amine.
- Amide, urea and sulfonamide formation
- Heterocyclic ring construction
- See also ortho anisidine
Fine & specialty synthesis
A well-characterised amine building block for custom amides, ureas, Schiff bases and ligand work where the meta-methylaniline pattern is required and no simpler isomer will do.
- Custom amide and urea formation
- Ligand and coordination chemistry
- Available in trial and laboratory quantities
Contract & scheduled supply
Dye and fine-chemical plants run to campaign, not to a calendar month. Most m-toluidine buyers want tonnage released against a production plan rather than in one shipment. We hold inventory and release it to your schedule.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Meta Toluidine
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. We own no toluidine plant — and for a lower-volume, specification-sensitive intermediate like this one, that independence works in your favour. We are never obliged to push you whatever a captive unit happens to be running that month.
Instead we place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your assay, your isomer tolerance, your price point and your delivery window.
Because m-toluidine is produced in smaller runs than its ortho and para isomers, we plan lead time carefully with you and keep a second qualified source in reserve so a single plant's production schedule does not become your bottleneck.
- Specification read against the CAS first. We confirm you need 108-44-1 and not the ortho or para isomer before we quote a price.
- Batch COA shared before dispatch. You approve the assay, colour and impurity profile against your own spec while the material is still in our warehouse.
- Hazard status stated up front. This material is toxic by all three exposure routes and combustible, and we say so at enquiry stage — not in the small print of a document pack that arrives with the goods.
- Pre-shipment samples for qualification. New account or new source, your R&D team runs a lab batch before the full quantity ever moves.
- Packing chosen for a flammable liquid. Drums, IBCs or tank quantities with proper venting and earthing guidance — we plan the format with your receiving system in mind.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Hazard classification, UN-approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Consolidation onto one bill of lading. Ship m-toluidine alongside other intermediates from our range — one invoice, one shipment, one counterparty.
Packed the way your plant receives it
As a liquid amine, m-toluidine is packed and transported very differently from a crystalline solid. Tell us how it will be charged at your end and we will quote the format that suits your operation.
UN-approved steel or HDPE drums
The standard format for LCL shipments and for plants charging drum-wise. Nitrogen-blanketed on request to limit oxidative colour drift.
IBC totes
Composite or steel IBCs for mid-volume buyers with mechanical unloading. Fewer handling movements per tonne than drums and a lower packing cost.
ISO tank containers
Bulk liquid movement for high-volume buyers running continuous consumption. The lowest landed cost per kilo at container scale.
Samples & trial packs
Laboratory samples and pilot quantities in glass or lined-steel containers, dispatched by courier so your R&D team can qualify the grade first.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to. Ocean, air and road freight arranged end-to-end with documentation filed before booking.
Campaign despatch
Dye and fine-chemical production runs to campaign. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your production calendar instead of landing it all at once.
Handle this as a classified acute toxicant
This is the point on the page that matters most. m-Toluidine is toxic by all three exposure routes, carries a specific target organ toxicity entry, and is very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects — and, as a combustible liquid, it needs fire precautions a solid amine does not. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your consignment is the authoritative document and should govern your risk assessment, PPE selection, exposure monitoring and emergency planning.
Classified hazards
H227Combustible liquid.H301Toxic if swallowed.H311Toxic in contact with skin.H331Toxic if inhaled.H373May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.H410Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Hazard statements reflect the harmonised GHS classification commonly published for CAS 108-44-1. Notably, m-toluidine does not carry a carcinogenicity classification in the primary references we track — a real distinction from its ortho isomer. Supplier classifications may differ in detail; always read the SDS issued with your specific batch.
Spill & emergency orientation
Plan your response before the drum arrives, not after a valve leaks. The points below are orientation for your emergency planners — sections 4, 5 and 6 of the SDS are the authoritative instructions and should be posted at the point of use.
- Contain, do not hose to drain. The material is very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects. Bund and collect spilled liquid into a labelled container; never wash it to a drain or watercourse.
- Eliminate ignition sources. As a combustible liquid, treat a spill area like any flammable-liquid incident — no naked flames, sparks or hot surfaces nearby.
- Assume skin absorption. Contaminated clothing is a continuing exposure route — remove it immediately and wash the skin thoroughly.
- Have the SDS with the casualty. Toluidines can cause methaemoglobinaemia, and the treating clinician needs the product identity and CAS number in hand.
- Monitor after significant exposure. H373 flags a specific target organ risk on repeated exposure — that is a decision for your occupational health provider to build into a surveillance programme.
Storage
- Cool, dry, well-ventilated store, away from direct sunlight, heat sources and ignition sources. Bunded floor to contain a drum or IBC failure.
- Keep containers tightly closed. Air and light drive the colourless-to-amber drift typical of anilines, and an open drum also picks up moisture.
- Segregate from oxidising agents, strong acids and acid chlorides. As a primary aromatic amine it reacts exothermically with acylating and oxidising reagents.
- Electrical bonding and earthing on transfer lines, in line with standard practice for a combustible liquid with a flash point in this range.
- Shelf life is typically 12–24 months in sealed original packing under these conditions. Re-assay before use after long storage.
Handling & PPE
- Design exposure out, do not manage it down. Closed transfer and pump-fed charging first, local exhaust ventilation second, PPE last.
- Skin protection is the priority. Toluidines are absorbed through intact skin — chemical-resistant gloves and coveralls, not just splash protection.
- Respiratory protection where vapour concentrations may build — particularly in enclosed transfer areas — per your own exposure assessment.
- Fire precautions. Keep away from open flames, sparks and hot surfaces; use appropriate extinguishing media (dry chemical, foam, CO₂) in the event of a fire.
- Never discharge to drain or watercourse. H410 applies — collect spills and dispose of them as regulated chemical waste.
Transport
m-Toluidine moves as regulated cargo. We classify each consignment, apply UN-approved packaging and labelling, and file the dangerous-goods declaration before the booking is made. The applicable UN number, class and packing group are stated on your shipping documents and SDS — ask us for the current DG paperwork when you plan the shipment.
What travels with every consignment
A chemical shipment is only as good as the file that travels with it. Verifying what the source plant sends is precisely the work you are buying from a supplier.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-specific assay by GC, water content by Karl Fischer, colour (APHA), appearance and impurity profile — checked against your purchase specification before we release the goods.
GHS Safety Data Sheet
Full 16-section SDS in GHS format covering hazards, exposure controls, handling, storage, spill response, toxicology and disposal — issued in the language your destination requires.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN number, hazard class, packing group and IMDG or IATA declaration prepared and filed before the container is booked, with correctly marked and labelled packaging.
Certificate of Origin
Chamber-attested where required, plus preferential-origin forms where a trade agreement gives your import duty relief at the destination.
Third-party inspection
SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas sampling and inspection arranged on request before loading, giving you independent verification of what actually ships.
Retained & pre-shipment samples
Pre-shipment samples carry the same COA as the commercial lot, so what your laboratory qualifies is exactly what arrives. Retention samples held against the batch.
What the meta pattern buys you
m-Toluidine behaves chemically like a mild, well-behaved primary aromatic amine — its value lies less in a single dominant reaction and more in the specific geometry the meta-methyl pattern gives to whatever is built on it. The routes below are the general industrial pattern, not a process disclosure.
Start with the aniline
m-Toluidine provides a primary aromatic amine with a methyl group meta to the nitrogen, giving a molecule with reactivity close to aniline itself but a distinct substitution pattern for the ring built downstream.
Diazotise for colour
Sodium nitrite in acid at low temperature gives the diazonium salt, which is coupled onto naphthol or pyrazolone components to build dyes needing the meta-methyl chromophore.
Acylate or condense
The amine condenses with acid chlorides, isocyanates and carbonyl compounds to build amides, ureas and Schiff bases for rubber, agro and pharma intermediate chemistry.
Finish to grade
The crude product is distilled and standardised to whatever the end market demands — colour target, agro spec or pharmaceutical limit.
Why aniline quality carries through the whole route
Whichever door you use, anything in the feed that competes for the nitrogen, or that carries its own reactive functionality, follows the material down the line:
- Isomeric toluidines diazotise or acylate in parallel and give structurally similar products — an off-shade chromophore in colour work, a hard-to-separate impurity in agro or pharma work.
- Residual water can complicate diazotisation control and acylation yield alike.
- Oxidation products — the coloured species responsible for the amber drift — dull a finished shade and show as colour in an otherwise near-colourless liquid.
- Heavy residues concentrate in the still bottoms and reduce the number of passes you get from a distillation train.
That chain of consequences is the reason we quote against your written specification rather than a generic "99% technical" grade, and the reason the batch COA is shared for approval before dispatch rather than sent with the invoice.
| Intermediate | Principal outlet |
|---|---|
| Meta Toluidine CAS 108-44-1 — this product | Specialty dyes Fine chemical & agro synthesis Pharma intermediates |
| Ortho Toluidine CAS 95-53-4 | Rubber chemicals Agrochemical intermediates |
| Para Toluidine CAS 106-49-0 | Azo pigments & dyes Rubber & pharma intermediates |
If your route calls for one of the others, we supply those as well — see our full product catalogue. Send the CAS number and we will confirm the correct material before quoting.
What actually moves the price of this intermediate
m-Toluidine is a lower-volume, specialist intermediate rather than a screen-priced commodity. Knowing what drives the quote helps you time a purchase and read whether an offer is realistic.
Thin, campaign-shaped demand
With fewer buyers than the ortho or para isomers, m-toluidine tends to be produced in scheduled campaigns rather than continuously — plan orders around your source plant's run calendar.
- Quote early for campaign tonnage
- Spot buying outside a campaign costs more
- Contracted call-off smooths the exposure
Upstream feedstock
The route back to m-toluidine runs through toluene, nitration and reduction. Movements in toluene, ammonia and hydrogen feed through to the aniline within a quarter or so.
- Toluene price sets the floor
- Energy cost weighs on distillation
- We flag feedstock-driven moves in the quote
Handling & transport cost
As a combustible, acutely toxic liquid, m-toluidine carries a hazardous-cargo freight surcharge and needs UN-rated drums, IBCs or tanks — costs that a comparably-priced solid intermediate would not carry.
- Liquid transport costs more than solid, kilo for kilo
- Tank quantities lower the per-kilo freight materially
- We check destination rules before quoting
Pack format
Cost per kilo falls from drums to IBCs to ISO tanks. Tank movement is worthwhile only above a certain volume threshold — we will tell you honestly where that threshold sits for your quantity.
- Drums suit trial and mid-size orders
- ISO tanks are cheapest per kilo at scale
- We size the format to your consumption rate
Freight & DG surcharges
This is regulated cargo, so ocean freight carries a hazardous surcharge and space is tighter than for general cargo. Destination and Incoterm move landed cost as much as the ex-works price does.
- Compare on landed cost, not ex-works
- DG space books out ahead of peak season
- We quote FOB, CIF, CFR or DDP as you prefer
Source availability
A plant turnaround or a shift in campaign scheduling can take capacity offline at short notice on a lower-volume line like this one. Single-sourced buyers feel this hardest.
- We hold a second qualified source on this line
- Qualify the alternate before you need it
- Ask us about dual-source contracts
| If your end use is… | Specify |
|---|---|
| Specialty dyes & pigments | Colour ceiling, tight isomer limit |
| Rubber & antioxidant chemistry | High assay with tight isomer limits |
| Agrochemical synthesis | High assay; moisture the critical parameter for several routes |
| Pharmaceutical chain | Tight isomer limit; metals and residues reported |
| Laboratory / R&D | Small pack, high purity, full analytical pack |
Not sure which column you are in? Describe the reaction you are running and our technical desk will recommend the grade — including telling you when a cheaper specification would do the job just as well.
Support that goes beyond shipping the drum
What our technical desk will do
- Match a grade to your reaction. Tell us the step you are running and we will recommend the specification — and say so plainly when a tighter, costlier grade would add nothing.
- Be straight about the hazard profile. We state the acute toxicity classification — and the absence of a carcinogenicity classification, which some buyers specifically ask about — at enquiry stage so your EHS team can plan controls accurately.
- Advise on handling and storage for your site conditions — bunding and earthing for a combustible liquid look different in different climates and plant layouts.
- Review your specification before it goes into a contract, so you are not locked into a limit that no plant can consistently hit.
Regulatory & compliance notes
- Acute toxicant obligations are jurisdiction-specific. Several regimes impose exposure limits, health surveillance and record retention for chemicals with this hazard profile. Confirm what applies at your site before the first delivery.
- Import controls vary by destination. Some jurisdictions apply registration, licensing or end-use declaration requirements to this material. We check the destination rules before quoting, not after you have raised the PO.
- Chemical inventory listings differ between regions. Confirm your obligations under the applicable inventory regime for your import volume — we will supply the identity data you need for that filing.
- Downstream article restrictions can apply to certain colourant and consumer applications. Your regulatory team should confirm the finished-article position for the end use you have in mind.
None of the above is legal advice — your own regulatory affairs team owns the final compliance position for your import and your workplace. What we commit to is giving you accurate product identity data, an honest statement of the hazard classification and complete documentation to work from.
From enquiry to delivered drum
Send the specification
Product name or CAS 108-44-1, the assay and colour limits you work to, quantity, pack preference and destination port.
Receive a firm quote
Pricing, lead time, packing and Incoterm confirmed in writing within 24 hours — our sourcing desk is staffed around the clock.
Qualify and approve
Sample dispatched if you are qualifying a new source. Batch COA shared for your approval before the material is released.
Ship and track
DG classification filed, freight booked, export documents issued, and the consignment tracked through transit and clearance to your plant.
Often bought alongside this grade
Consolidate several intermediates onto one shipment and one invoice. These are the anilines and aromatics our dye, rubber and fine chemical customers most often order in the same programme. Each of the following is part of our wider aniline intermediate range — browse the full product catalogue for current availability and specification sheets.
What buyers ask us about Meta Toluidine
Is this material classified as a carcinogen?
Can I use the ortho or para isomer instead?
What purity do you normally supply?
What is the minimum order quantity?
How long does delivery take?
Why does the liquid darken in storage?
How should we store it, and what is the shelf life?
Is this a dangerous good? What paperwork comes with it?
- Batch certificate of analysis
- GHS-format safety data sheet
- Dangerous-goods declaration with UN number, class and packing group
- Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading or airway bill
- Certificate of origin and any destination-specific forms
Do you supply to my country?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Can you hold stock against a production plan?
Request pricing on Meta Toluidine
Send your required assay, quantity, pack format and destination port. Our sourcing desk is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and comes back with pricing, lead time and packing options — whether that is a single trial drum or a contracted tank programme for the year.