N,N-Dimethylaniline
N,N-Dimethylaniline — DMA — is the aniline nitrogen fully alkylated with two methyl groups. That change removes the N-H bonds entirely and leaves a strongly activating, highly nucleophilic nitrogen that has made this one of the classic building blocks of the triarylmethane dye industry, alongside a long-standing role as a polymerisation accelerator in methacrylate resin systems.
Chelora Chemicals supplies DMA to dye manufacturers, resin and adhesive formulators, and fine chemical producers worldwide, in drums and bulk quantities, with a batch COA and GHS safety data sheet on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 121-69-7
- IUPAC name
- N,N-Dimethylaniline
- Molecular formula
- C8H11N
- Molecular weight
- 121.18 g/mol
- EC / EINECS
- 204-493-5
- MDL number
- MFCD00008304
- SMILES
- CN(C)c1ccccc1
- HS Code
- 2921 42*
* Confirm the exact HS heading with your customs broker — N-alkylated aniline derivatives can sit under a different subheading from the simple anilines depending on destination tariff schedules.
What N,N-Dimethylaniline is used for
N,N-Dimethylaniline replaces both hydrogens on the aniline nitrogen with methyl groups. With no N-H bonds left to hydrogen-bond or oxidise the way a primary or secondary aniline does, the nitrogen lone pair is fully available to donate electron density into the ring — making DMA one of the most strongly activating, most nucleophilic aromatic amines in common industrial use. That reactivity is the whole commercial story.
Historically and still today, DMA is a foundational intermediate for the triarylmethane dye family — malachite green, crystal violet and related basic dyes are built by condensing DMA (or its close relatives) with an aldehyde and oxidising the resulting leuco base. Separately, DMA is a long-established tertiary-amine accelerator for the redox-initiated cure of methacrylate resins, working alongside a peroxide initiator in dental and orthopaedic bone cements and certain structural adhesives.
Why full N-alkylation matters
The degree of N-substitution on an aniline nitrogen changes its chemistry categorically, not just incrementally:
- N,N-Dimethylaniline (CAS 121-69-7) — this product. Tertiary amine, cannot diazotise, cannot form amides at nitrogen. Reacts at the ring instead.
- N,N-Diethylaniline (CAS 91-66-7) — the ethyl analogue, similar tertiary-amine chemistry with a bulkier alkyl group.
- Aniline itself (CAS 62-53-3) — a primary amine that diazotises readily; entirely different downstream chemistry from DMA.
If your process specifically requires a tertiary N,N-dialkylaniline rather than a primary amine, confirm the CAS number on your purchase order — the chemistry is not interchangeable. We supply the related N-alkylaniline range as well; see the full intermediate range.
Appearance and handling character
DMA ships as a colourless to light orange or yellow clear liquid that melts right around 2 °C, so it is a liquid through ordinary ambient storage but can approach its freezing point in a genuinely cold store or winter transit. It is insoluble in water and miscible with alcohols, chloroform, acetone and ether. Like other aromatic amines it darkens on exposure to air and light. It carries a suspected-carcinogen classification, and the safety section below should be read before any handling is planned.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless to light yellow clear liquid |
| Assay (GC) | 99.0% min |
| Moisture (KF) | 0.2% max |
| Freezing point | ≈ 1.5 – 2.5 °C |
| Colour (APHA) | Reported per batch |
| Residual aniline / monomethyl | 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 colour specification, a controlled moisture figure or a residual mono-methylaniline limit, send us the specification and we will quote against it rather than against a generic grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Liquid at ambient |
| Melting / freezing point | ≈ 2 °C |
| Boiling point | ≈ 193 – 194 °C @ 760 mmHg |
| Flash point | ≈ 62 – 73 °C |
| Relative density | ≈ 0.95 – 0.96 |
| Refractive index | ≈ 1.556 – 1.559 |
| Water solubility | Insoluble |
| Organic solubility | Miscible with alcohol, chloroform, acetone, ether |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 121-69-7 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this molecule to work
DMA's fully alkylated, strongly activating nitrogen gives it two quite different major outlets — dye chemistry and polymer cure chemistry — plus a range of smaller fine chemical uses.
Triarylmethane dye synthesis
Condensed with an aromatic aldehyde and oxidised, DMA and its relatives build the leuco base and finished chromophore of malachite green, crystal violet, methyl violet and related basic dyes used across textiles, paper, biological staining and inks.
- Triarylmethane and diarylmethane dye chemistry
- Shade and purity depend on feed quality
- See our dye intermediate range
Methacrylate resin cure accelerator
DMA activates the peroxide-initiated free-radical cure of methacrylate resins at ambient temperature, a role it plays in dental and orthopaedic bone cements and in certain structural acrylic adhesives where fast, room-temperature setting is required.
- Redox accelerator with peroxide initiators
- Ambient-cure PMMA-based systems
- Trace-level formulation ingredient
Pharmaceutical intermediates
The dimethylaminophenyl fragment appears across several pharmaceutical synthesis routes, including intermediates related to local anaesthetics and other tertiary-amine aromatic drug structures.
- Tertiary-amine aromatic intermediate
- Tight residual-amine limits usually apply
- See also related N-alkylaniline range
Agrochemical intermediates
DMA and its N-alkylated relatives support specialty agrochemical synthesis routes where a strongly activated aromatic ring is required as an intermediate step.
- Custom synthesis quantities available
- See our agrochemical intermediate range
- Talk to our technical desk about your route
Analytical & laboratory reagent use
DMA is used as a laboratory reagent in several analytical chemistry procedures, including certain colorimetric and derivatisation methods, where its high nucleophilicity is put to work directly.
- Reagent-grade material on request
- Small pack sizes available
- Full analytical documentation available
Contract & scheduled supply
Dye and resin-additive plants run to production campaign, not to a calendar month. Most DMA 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 N,N-Dimethylaniline
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. We own no aniline-alkylation plant — and for a suspected-carcinogen intermediate used in both colour chemistry and formulated medical-device components, that independence lets us route your order to a source that actually matches your quality and documentation needs.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your assay, your colour requirement, your price point and your delivery window.
We keep a second qualified source on this line. When a plant goes down for maintenance, your campaign switches source rather than stalling.
- Specification read against the CAS first. We confirm you need 121-69-7 and not the diethyl analogue or a primary aniline before we quote a price.
- Batch COA shared before dispatch. You approve the assay, colour and moisture profile against your own spec while the material is still in our warehouse.
- Hazard status stated up front. This material carries a suspected-carcinogen classification, and we say so at enquiry stage — not in the small print of a document pack that arrives with the goods.
- End-use-appropriate documentation. Where the material feeds a medical-device formulation, we work with you on the identity and purity documentation your dossier requires.
- Pre-shipment samples for qualification. New account or new source, your laboratory runs a trial batch before the full quantity ever moves.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Hazard classification, UN-approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Pack format drives your landed cost and your handling effort. Tell us how the material will be charged at your end and we will quote the format that suits your operation.
MS / HDPE-lined drums
UN-certified drums for liquid product, the standard format for LCL and smaller commercial movements.
IBC totes / flexitanks
Intermediate bulk containers or flexitank liners for full-container liquid loads, reducing packing cost per litre for high-volume users.
Bulk isotainer
For contracted campaign tonnage, bulk isotank shipment offers the lowest cost per kilo and minimal handling exposure.
Samples & trial packs
Laboratory samples and pilot quantities dispatched by courier so your R&D team can qualify the grade before committing to campaign volume.
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 resin-additive 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 suspected carcinogen
N,N-Dimethylaniline is toxic by all three routes of exposure, combustible, and carries a suspected carcinogenicity classification (Category 2) in widely published regulatory data. 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.H351Suspected of causing cancer.H411Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Hazard statements reflect the GHS classification commonly published for CAS 121-69-7. Some suppliers additionally list organ-toxicity and drowsiness entries. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch, and treat the carcinogenicity entry as the one that shapes your controls most.
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 toxic to aquatic life. Contain the liquid with absorbent material and collect it into a labelled container.
- Eliminate ignition sources. As a combustible liquid, keep it away from open flame, sparks and hot surfaces during any spill response.
- Assume skin absorption. Contaminated clothing is a continuing exposure route — remove it immediately and wash the skin thoroughly.
- Have the SDS with the casualty. The treating clinician needs the product identity and CAS number in hand.
- Record the exposure. With a carcinogenicity classification, most occupational regimes expect an exposure record to be created and retained — a decision for your EHS function, made easier before an incident than after one.
Storage
- Cool, dry, well-ventilated store, away from direct sunlight, heat sources and ignition sources given its combustible classification.
- Keep containers tightly closed and preferably under inert gas. Air and light drive colour drift, and an open drum also picks up moisture.
- Segregate from oxidising agents, strong acids and acid chlorides. As a tertiary amine it still reacts exothermically with strong oxidisers.
- Access-controlled, bunded storage. Given the carcinogenicity classification and aquatic toxicity, restricting access and containing spills are control measures, not administrative niceties.
- 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 mechanical pumping first, ventilation second, PPE last — especially given the carcinogenicity classification.
- Skin protection is the priority. Aromatic amines of this type are absorbed through intact skin — chemical-resistant gloves and coveralls, not just splash protection.
- Respiratory protection where vapour concentrations may exceed exposure limits — particularly during drum opening or transfer — per your own exposure assessment.
- Health surveillance and exposure records. Where a carcinogenicity classification triggers obligations at your site, your occupational health provider and EHS function own the detail.
- Never discharge to drain or watercourse. H411 applies — contain spills and dispose of them as regulated chemical waste.
Transport
DMA moves as regulated cargo (UN 2253). We classify each consignment, apply UN-approved packaging and labelling, and file the dangerous-goods declaration before the booking is made. The applicable 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, moisture, colour 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 2253 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.
A fully alkylated nitrogen that reacts through the ring
With no N-H left to functionalise, DMA's chemistry runs almost entirely through the aromatic ring. The routes below are the general industrial pattern, not a process disclosure.
Start with the tertiary amine
DMA offers a strongly electron-donating dimethylamino group on the ring, activating the positions ortho and para to it for electrophilic attack.
Condense at the ring
In dye synthesis, DMA condenses with an aromatic aldehyde at the activated ring position, building the carbon skeleton of the finished triarylmethane dye.
Or activate a redox cure
In resin chemistry, the tertiary amine reduces a peroxide initiator, generating free radicals that drive ambient-temperature polymerisation of methacrylate monomers.
Finish to grade
The material is purified to whatever the end market demands — colour target for dye synthesis, or residual-amine and moisture limits for pharmaceutical or resin-additive use.
Why feed quality carries through the whole route
Because DMA's nitrogen cannot be further functionalised, impurities that touch the ring or carry their own reactivity are the ones that matter:
- Mono-methylaniline and aniline residues from incomplete methylation react differently in the same condensation or redox step and give an inconsistent shade or cure speed.
- Oxidation products from air exposure are the coloured species behind batch-to-batch colour drift, and they carry into the finished dye or resin product.
- Residual moisture can interfere with condensation efficiency and, in resin accelerator applications, with cure consistency.
- Heavy residues from the alkylation route concentrate in still bottoms and reduce distillation yield.
That chain of consequences is the reason we quote against your written specification rather than a generic "technical" grade, and the reason the batch COA is shared for approval before dispatch rather than sent with the invoice.
| Intermediate | Principal outlet |
|---|---|
| N,N-Dimethylaniline CAS 121-69-7 — this product | Triarylmethane dyes Methacrylate resin accelerator |
| N,N-Diethylaniline CAS 91-66-7 | Dye & rubber chemistry Similar tertiary-amine role |
| N,N,4-Trimethylaniline CAS 99-97-8 | Dental & bone cement accelerator Industrial adhesives |
If your route calls for one of the others, we supply those as well — see the full intermediate range. Send the CAS number and we will confirm the correct material before quoting.
What actually moves the price of this intermediate
DMA is not a commodity with a screen price. Knowing what drives the quote helps you time a purchase and read whether an offer is realistic.
Two distinct demand pools
Dye-industry demand and resin-additive demand pull on the same molecule at different times and for different reasons, which tends to smooth overall demand compared with a single-outlet intermediate.
- Quote early for campaign tonnage
- Spot buying at peak costs materially more
- Contracted call-off smooths the exposure
Upstream feedstock
The route back to DMA runs through aniline and methylation chemistry (methanol or dimethyl sulfate). Movements in benzene, ammonia and methanol feed through within a quarter or so.
- Aniline and methylation reagent cost set the floor
- Energy cost weighs on distillation
- We flag feedstock-driven moves in the quote
Regulatory pressure
The suspected-carcinogen classification raises the compliance cost of producing, storing and moving this material. That cost sits inside the price, and it is one reason capacity has consolidated rather than expanded.
- Handling obligations vary by jurisdiction
- Medical-device end use adds documentation cost
- We check destination rules before quoting
Pack & transport format
Cost per litre falls from drums to IBC totes to bulk isotank. If your process can take a larger unit and your storage can support it, the saving usually outweighs the handling change.
- Small drums carry the highest packing cost
- Isotank is cheapest per kilo at volume
- Disposal of packing is a hidden cost at your end
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, an environmental inspection or a monsoon disruption can take capacity offline at short notice. 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 |
|---|---|
| Triarylmethane dyes | Colour ceiling, tight residual-amine limit |
| Resin cure accelerator | Consistent assay; low moisture for reliable cure speed |
| Pharmaceutical chain | Tight related-substance limit; metals reported |
| Analytical / reagent use | Highest available purity, full analytical pack |
| Laboratory / R&D | Small pack, high purity, fast despatch |
Not sure which column you are in? Describe the reaction or formulation 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 process. Tell us whether you are running a dye condensation or a resin cure system, and we will recommend the specification accordingly.
- Be straight about the hazard profile. We state the suspected-carcinogen classification at enquiry stage so your EHS team can price the controls into the decision.
- Support medical-device documentation where your end use requires identity and purity data for a formulation dossier.
- 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
- Carcinogenicity obligations are jurisdiction-specific. Several regimes impose substitution reviews, exposure monitoring, health surveillance and record retention for materials with this classification. Confirm what applies at your site before the first delivery.
- Import controls vary by destination. 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.
- Medical-device or dental-material end uses may carry their own supplier-qualification requirements. Your regulatory team should confirm what applies for your finished product.
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 pallet
Send the specification
Product name or CAS 121-69-7, 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.
What buyers ask us about N,N-Dimethylaniline
Is this material classified as a carcinogen?
Can I substitute N,N-diethylaniline or a primary aniline?
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?
Request pricing on N,N-Dimethylaniline
Send your required assay, colour ceiling, 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 pack or a contracted isotank programme for the year.