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N,N-Dimethyllaurylamine (commonly called dimethyl lauryl amine, lauryldimethylamine, or N,N-dimethyldodecylamine) is a tertiary alkyl amine with a C12 (lauryl/dodecyl) linear alkyl chain and two methyl substituents on the nitrogen.
It is an important intermediate for manufacturing amine oxides, quaternary ammonium compounds, surfactants, corrosion inhibitors and lubricant additives.
CAS Registry Number: 112-18-5
Common name / trade names: Dimethyl lauryl amine; Lauryl dimethylamine; Dodecyl dimethylamine; Dimethyllaurylamine.
Molecular structure and physical properties
Structure: linear C12 alkyl chain attached to a tertiary dimethylamino group: CH₃(CH₂)₁₁N(CH₃)₂. The nitrogen is tertiary (non-protic) and basic.
Key physical properties (typical catalog values / experimental):
Appearance: colorless to pale yellow liquid (commercial samples may have color from impurities).
Molecular weight: ≈ 213.40 g·mol⁻¹.
Boiling point: moderately high (literature and supplier data indicate elevated bp consistent with C12 tertiary amine; exact value depends on pressure).
Density: values near ~0.8–0.85 g·cm⁻³ expected (chain length dependent). (Consult supplier SDS for batch values.)
LogP / partitioning: high hydrophobicity (large positive logP, estimated >5), consistent with strong partitioning to organic phases and membranes.
Solubility: poorly soluble in water in base form; readily soluble in organic solvents (alcohols, ethers, hydrocarbons). The amine can be protonated (water soluble as salt under acidic conditions).
Acid–base behavior: as a tertiary amine, it is basic (pKb/pKa of conjugate acid typically in range where protonation occurs in strongly acidic conditions). Protonation changes solubility and reactivity — exploited in synthesis and formulation.
Synthesis and industrial production routes
Typical synthetic routes
Reductive amination of lauryl aldehyde / lauryl ketone: Reaction of dodecanal or similar with dimethylamine followed by reduction can yield N,N-dimethyldodecylamine.
Alkylation of dimethylamine: Alkyl halides (e.g., dodecyl chloride/bromide) reacted with dimethylamine can give tertiary amine (careful control to avoid quaternization).
Hydrogenation of nitriles: Hydrogenation of dodecyl cyanide in presence of methylating agents or via stepwise transformations to introduce dimethylamino group.
Fractionation & purification: Industrially produced tertiary alkyl amines are often mixtures (C12, C14 etc.). Distillation, adsorption, and solvent extraction are used to purify to specified grades.
Industrial considerations
Feedstock: derived from fatty-chain building blocks from petrochemical or fatty alcohol derivatives.
Selectivity & side reactions: over-alkylation to quaternary ammonium salts or formation of secondary amines can occur; process control is essential.
Scale & grades: laboratory reagent grades (≥95%) and industrial grades (mixtures, technical grades) are marketed; impurities include higher/lower alkyl homologues and unreacted feedstock.
Chemical reactions and derivatization
Quaternization: tertiary amine can be alkylated to produce quaternary ammonium salts (cationic surfactants, biocides).
Oxidation to N-oxide: mild oxidation (e.g., with peracids or H₂O₂ with catalysts) converts the tertiary amine to the amine oxide (lauryldimethylamine oxide), a zwitterionic/nonionic surfactant widely used in cleaners and personal care.
This transformation increases water solubility and changes surfactant behavior.
Salt formation: protonation with inorganic acids produces water-soluble amine salts (e.g., hydrochloride, sulfate). Useful for formulation and handling.
Acylation / amidation: less common directly, but the amine can be transformed to other functional groups via standard organic transformations.
Applications and industrial uses
Intermediate to surfactants: the most common industrial use is as an intermediate to produce amine oxides (e.g., lauryl dimethylamine oxide), quaternary ammonium surfactants, betaines, and amphoteric surfactants used in detergents, cleaners, personal care and formulations.
Corrosion inhibitors: used in metalworking fluids, corrosion inhibitor formulations and lubricant additives (surface-active tertiary amines interact with metal surfaces).
Emulsifiers and phase transfer catalysts: as a lipophilic tertiary amine, it can serve in emulsion stabilizers (often after conversion to amine oxide or quaternary salt).
Chemical intermediate in fine chemicals and specialty compounds: used to synthesize more complex cationic or zwitterionic surfactants and as precursor for active ingredients.
SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT DIMETHYL LAURLY AMINE
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
