General Description
A viscous liquid. Slightly less dense than water. Vapors heavier than air. Corrosive to the eyes, skin, mouth, throat and stomach. Vapors irritate the eyes and corrosive to the upper respiratory tract. Vapors may irritate the eyes. Flash point 325°F.
Reactivity Profile
TETRAETHYLENEPENTAMINE(112-57-2) is hygroscopic. This compound can react with oxidizing materials and strong acids. TETRAETHYLENEPENTAMINE(112-57-2) may attack some forms of plastics.
Air & Water Reactions
Soluble in water. Hygroscopic.
Health Hazard
Inhalation may cause nausea and slight irritation; compound is a sensitizer, and prolonged contact may cause asthma. Ingestion can cause burns of mouth, esophagus, and possibly stomach. Contact with eyes or skin may cause burns. Repeated skin contact may cause dermatitis.
Potential Exposure
Tetraethylenepentamine is used as a solvent for resins and dyes, in manufacture of synthetic rubber; and intermediate for oil additives; in papermaking.
Fire Hazard
Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Ammonia and toxic oxides of nitrogen may form in fires.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. If victim is conscious, administer 50/50 solution of vinegar/water, water, or milk. Do not induce vomiting. Medical observation is recommended for 24-48 hours after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. As first aid for pulmonary edema, a doctor or authorized paramedic may consider administering a drug or other inhalation therapy.
Shipping
UN2320 Tetraethylenepentamine, Hazard class: 8; Labels: 8-Corrosive material.
Incompatibilities
Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides. This chemical is strongly alkaline; reacts with acids.
Chemical Properties
colourless to green-yellow viscous liquid
Chemical Properties
Tetraethylenepentamine is a yellow, viscous liquid.
Definition
ChEBI: Tetraethylenepentamine is a polyazaalkane. It has a role as a copper chelator.
Hazard
Strong irritant to eyes and skin.
Purification Methods
Distil the amine under vacuum. Also purify via its penta hydrochloride, nitrate or sulfate. Jonassen, Frey and Schaafsma [J Phys Chem 61 504 1957] cooled a solution of 150g of the base in 300mL of 95% EtOH, and added dropwise 180mL of conc HCl, keeping the temperature below 20o. The white precipitate was filtered off, crystallised three times from EtOH/water, then washed with diethyl ether and dried by suction. Reilley and Holloway [J Am Chem Soc 80 2917 1958], starting with a similar solution cooled to 0o, added slowly (keeping the temperature below 10o) a solution of 4.5g-moles of HNO3 in 600mL of aqueous 50% EtOH (also cooled to 0o). The precipitate was filtered by suction, recrystallised five times from aqueous 5% HNO3, then washed with acetone and absolute EtOH and dried at 50o. [For purification via the sulfate see Reilley and Vavoulis (Anal Chem 31 243 1959), and for an additional purification step using the Schiff base with benzaldehyde see Jonassen et al. J Am Chem Soc 79 4279 1957]. [Beilstein 4 IV 1244.]
