N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethylethylenediamine

N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethylethylenediamine, commonly known as TEMED or 1,2-Bis(dimethylamino)ethane, is a tertiary diamine supplied as a colorless to slightly yellow liquid under CAS 110-18-9. It carries no assigned E-code and is catalogued under EC 203-744-6 with HS code 29212900.

In polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, TEMED accelerates free-radical polymerization by catalyzing the decomposition of ammonium persulfate, enabling controlled gel formation in biotechnology workflows. It also functions as a catalyst in polyurethane synthesis and serves as a pH buffer and antimicrobial agent in select pharmaceutical and food-grade formulations.

TEMED is available in reagent, technical, and food-contact grades, with high-purity lots meeting FCC and Ph.Eur. specifications where applicable. The substance is registered under REACH and requires an up-to-date SDS for EU trade. Packaging typically ranges from laboratory quantities to bulk drums for industrial procurement.