General Description
Dark brown liquid.
Reactivity Profile
2,4-XYLIDINE(95-68-1) ignites on contact with fuming nitric acid . Neutralizes acids in exothermic reactions to form salts plus water. May be incompatible with isocyanates, halogenated organics, peroxides, phenols (acidic), epoxides, anhydrides, and acid halides. Flammable gaseous hydrogen may be generated in combination with strong reducing agents, such as hydrides.
Air & Water Reactions
This chemical may be sensitive to prolonged exposure to air. Slightly soluble in water.
Fire Hazard
This chemical is combustible.
Chemical Properties
colourless to yellow or dark brown liquid
Uses
2,4-Xylidine, as part of the commercial mixture, has the same
uses as xylidine.
Definition
ChEBI: A primary arylamine that is aniline in which the hydrogens at the 2- and 4-positions are replaced by methyl groups. A clear to yellow liquid, it is used in production of certain dyes, pesticides and other chemicals.
Metabolic pathway
The major urinary metabolite of 2,4-dimethylaniline
(2,4-DMA) in rats is N-acetyl-4-amino-3-methylbenzoic
acid, while in dogs, it is 6-hydroxy-2,4-dimethylaniline.
Dogs also produce a smaller amount of unacetylated
4-amino-3-methylbenzoic acid and its glycine
conjugate. 2,6-Dimethylaniline (2,6-DMA) is
metabolized principally to 4-hydroxy-2,6-
dimethylaniline in both species, but dogs also produce
a significant quantity of 2-amino-3-methylbenzoic acid along with a trace amount of the glycine conjugate of
the latter metabolite and 2,6-dimethylnitrosobenzene.
Trace levels of an unknown postulated to be 3,5-
dimethyl-4-iminoquinone are found in dog urine.
Purification Methods
Convert uns-xylidine to a derivative (see below) which, after recrystallisation, is decomposed with alkali to give the free base. Dry it over KOH and fractionally distil. The acetyl derivative has m 130o, the benzoyl derivative has m 192o, and the picrate has m 209o. [Beilstein 12 H 1111, 12 IV 2545.]
