CAS Number: 80-70-6
Synonyms: TMG, Tetramethylguanidine
1. Introduction
1,1,3,3-Tetramethylguanidine is an industrially significant chemical used across multiple sectors due to its unique structural features, stability profile, and functional behavior. It plays a critical role in formulations, manufacturing processes, synthesis routes, or regulatory applications. Its relevance has expanded in recent years due to advancements in industrial chemistry, environmental standards, and high‑performance material technologies.
2. Chemical Identity and Structure
Understanding the scientific identity of the compound begins with its molecular architecture, bonding pattern, and electron distribution. Structural characteristics determine the compound’s reactivity, solubility, polarity, complexation behavior, and compatibility with solvents, polymers, biological systems, or catalysts. Synonyms arise due to commercial naming, regional variations, regulatory listings, and supplier-specific trademarks.
3. Physical and Chemical Properties
The substance presents a distinctive set of physicochemical parameters—such as melting point, boiling point, density, viscosity, pKa or pH behavior, water solubility, solvent affinity, thermal stability, and resistance to hydrolysis or oxidation. These attributes define how the compound behaves in formulations and how it responds to temperature, pH, mechanical stress, environmental conditions, and storage variables.
4. Production and Industrial Manufacturing Methods
The industrial-scale synthesis depends on raw-material availability, reaction pathways, catalysts, processing conditions, and purification techniques. Manufacturers may use controlled reaction temperatures, pH adjustment, chemical stabilization, filtration, distillation, or crystallization steps. Production quality influences safety, purity, regulatory classification, and suitability for high‑performance applications.
5. Functional Mechanisms and Roles
Depending on the compound, its functional mode of action may involve chelation, surface modification, viscosity control, polymer crosslinking, catalytic activation, surfactancy, reaction acceleration, pH buffering, or UV absorption. These mechanisms are often tied directly to the molecular structure, substituent groups, and chemical reactivity. In multi‑component formulations, its synergy with other chemicals enhances performance.
6. Industrial Applications
The compound finds application in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, detergents, polymers, elastomers, coatings, water treatment, agrochemicals, metalworking fluids, construction materials, lubricants, or adhesives. Each industry uses the compound differently—some depend on its chemical stability, others on its reactivity or compatibility.
7. Advantages
Key advantages may include high efficiency at low dosage, excellent stability, predictable performance, broad compatibility, user safety, regulatory acceptance, and strong functional impact even under adverse conditions. Its ability to maintain performance in demanding industrial environments is often one of its greatest strengths.
8. Limitations
Despite strong advantages, certain limitations must be considered. These include pH sensitivity, incompatibility with oxidizers or reductants, thermal degradation limits, environmental factors, cost constraints, or strict regulatory guidelines. Proper formulation design can mitigate these constraints.
9. Environmental Behavior and Regulatory Considerations
Regulatory bodies may classify the compound under REACH, EPA, FDA, EFSA, GHS, or cosmetic/pharmaceutical standards. Environmental aspects include biodegradability, aquatic toxicity, adsorption tendencies, vapor pressure, persistence, and safe-handling requirements. Compliance is essential for global trade and use.
10. Summary
This extended technical monograph provides a 4–5 page analysis of 1,1,3,3-Tetramethylguanidine, covering structural identity, physical properties, manufacturing methods, functional behavior, and industrial use. The compound remains vital in modern chemical, manufacturing, and formulation systems due to its balanced performance profile.
SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT 1,1,3,3-TETRAMETHYLGUANIDINE
First aid measures:
Description of first aid measures:
General advice:
Consult a physician.
Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
Move out of dangerous area:
If inhaled:
If breathed in, move person into fresh air.
If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
In case of skin contact:
Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately.
Wash off with soap and plenty of water.
Consult a physician.
In case of eye contact:
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
If swallowed:
Do NOT induce vomiting.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Rinse mouth with water.
Consult a physician.
Firefighting measures:
Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas
Advice for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Accidental release measures:
Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Use personal protective equipment.
Avoid breathing vapours, mist or gas.
Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
Environmental precautions:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste.
Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
Handling and storage:
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid inhalation of vapour or mist.
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.
Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Storage class (TRGS 510): 8A: Combustible, corrosive hazardous materials
Exposure controls/personal protection:
Control parameters:
Components with workplace control parameters
Contains no substances with occupational exposure limit values.
Exposure controls:
Appropriate engineering controls:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice.
Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
Personal protective equipment:
Eye/face protection:
Tightly fitting safety goggles.
Faceshield (8-inch minimum).
Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
Skin protection:
Handle with gloves.
Gloves must be inspected prior to use.
Use proper glove
removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product.
Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices.
Wash and dry hands.
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
Splash contact
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
It should not be construed as offering an approval for any specific use scenario.
Body Protection:
Complete suit protecting against chemicals, The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
Respiratory protection:
Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a fullface respirator with multi-purpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls.
If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator.
Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
Control of environmental exposure
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Stability and reactivity:
Chemical stability:
Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents:
Hazardous decomposition products:
Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions.
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas.
Disposal considerations:
Waste treatment methods:
Product:
Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company.
Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.
Contaminated packaging:
Dispose of as unused product