Triethylenetetramine

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Chemical structure of triethylenetetramine.
Chemical structure of triethylenetetramine.

Triethylenetetramine (TETA) is an oily liquid, with yellowish hue due to impurities. It melts at 12 °C and boils at 280 °C. Its formula is H2N-CH2CH2-NH-CH2CH2-NH-CH2CH2-NH2. It is soluble in water, producing an alkaline solution, as well as other polar solvents.

It has similar reactivity and uses as ethylenediamine and diethylenetriamine, with applications in epoxy curing.

Commercially available TETA contains 40% of the branched and cyclic isomers, N(CH2CH2NH2)3) and (CH2CH2NH)3, respectively. In the area of coordination chemistry, these isomers are called TREN and TACN.

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