Octylamine didn’t just arrive on the chemistry scene yesterday. Chemists first explored this straight-chain alkylamine in the early 20th century, drawn in by the potential of organic amines in all kinds of reaction environments. Once industrial demand for surfactants picked up, the expertise around producing and purifying octylamine ramped up. Over time, its role grew, riding alongside developments in fertilizer technology, rubber processing, and organic synthesis. Decades ago, synthesizing amines often meant labor-intensive methods and low yields. Now, the progress of catalytic hydrogenation and improved separation techniques allows ton-scale production, meaning more researchers and manufacturers turn to octylamine as a core ingredient. The legacy of octylamine stands on a foundation of trial, error, and clever chemistry solutions.
Octylamine appears as a clear liquid under typical conditions, with a noticeable fishy odor and a sharp, almost caustic tang that says, “Handle with care.” It holds the formula C8H19N and belongs to the family of aliphatic amines. Its miscibility, volatility, and distinct reactivity with acids and electrophiles give it a starring role in organic synthesis. People working in textile auxiliary chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and the rubber industry have seen octylamine’s versatility. Those who’ve handled octylamine quickly recognize its physical presence in the lab, which stands apart from other short-chain amines.
Octylamine has a boiling point around 175 degrees Celsius and a melting point just below zero. This means it’s usually in liquid form at room temperature, allowing for easy measuring and mixing. It dissolves well in organic solvents, even though it avoids water almost completely. The amine group at the end grants its basicity, so it reacts quickly with acids to form salts. In practice, you notice the burning sensation it leaves on the skin or eyes, evidence of its basic and irritating nature. Its vapor can irritate the respiratory tract, so handling it outside a fume hood leads to headaches quickly. Nothing drives physical and chemical understanding home like accidental exposure, a mistake most chemists make only once.
A bottle of octylamine carries clear hazard labels: corrosive, flammable, and dangerous to aquatic life. Purity grades usually range from 95% to 99%, suitable for both fine chemical applications and bulk industrial processing. Manufacturers might assign alternate product numbers or codes—each label outlines workplace exposure limits, first-aid guidelines, and storage rules. It belongs to packing group II for transport, and safety data sheets strictly advise gloves, goggles, and respiratory protection when transferring the liquid. Labelling never downplays octylamine’s hazards; everyone from chemical wholesalers to bench chemists approaches it with respect ingrained by years of incident reports and accident statistics. Chemical databases list its synonyms, such as n-octylamine or 1-octanamine, to help buyers avoid costly mix-ups.
Producing octylamine at scale usually starts with catalytic hydrogenation of octanenitrile, itself derived from catalytic hydrocyanation of 1-octene. The choice of catalyst—often nickel or cobalt—makes a real difference, both for yield and cost. Reactors run at several atmospheres of hydrogen pressure, sometimes for hours at a stretch. Smaller labs sometimes opt for reductive amination, coupling octanal with ammonia under reducing conditions. Either way, purification steps like fractional distillation, solvent extractions, or acid/base washes remove byproducts and unreacted material. The resulting octylamine emerges ready for action in downstream chemical syntheses or material applications.
Octylamine acts as a nucleophile—a key player in forming amides, imines, and sulfonamides. Mix it with an acyl chloride, and you get the corresponding amide, a building block for many bioactive molecules. Toss in an aldehyde, adjust the conditions, and imines or Schiff bases result. Octylamine can even function as a corrosion inhibitor or flotation agent, reacting with metal ions in mining and refining. For surfactant synthesis, ethoxylation or quaternization on the nitrogen brings out new surface-active properties. It’s a workhorse, leading to everything from anti-static additives in plastics to emulsifiers and beyond. The ease with which it forms new compounds keeps it in demand among those developing new industrial and pharmaceutical solutions.
Chemists and manufacturers rarely stick to only one name for any chemical, and octylamine is no exception. Watch for n-octylamine, 1-octanamine, or octan-1-amine on invoices or chemical inventories. Product catalogues from major suppliers like Sigma-Aldrich or Fisher Scientific use standardized names and CAS Registry Numbers (111-86-4) for tracking and inventory. More specialized applications sometimes present trade names or mixture-based labeling, especially in formulations with surfactants or corrosion inhibitors. Staying alert for synonyms matters for both regulatory compliance and avoiding purchasing errors.
Octylamine deserves careful treatment at every stage. Direct skin and eye contact quickly lead to burns and lasting irritation. Vapors floating over a benchtop trigger coughing fits even at low concentrations. National and international regulations call for extensive controls—ventilated storage, flame-proof containers, and chemical-resistant gear as standard. Industrial guidelines published by OSHA and EU REACH spell out exposure limits and measures for spill containment. I’ve seen operations halted by a splash or leak, not because of immediate extreme danger, but because every worker understands the risk of mishandling. Spill kits, eyewash stations, and fire blankets sit within arm’s reach for good reason.
Many industries keep ordering octylamine for specific, high-impact uses. Its amine group gives it a vital function as a raw material for synthesizing pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and rubber accelerators. Textile plants rely on its derivatives for softeners and anti-static agents—without them, clothes stick, frizz, and refuse to perform. Mining outfits still count on octylamine-based collectors to separate ores from gangue. Oilfield chemists tweak its derivatives to fight corrosion in pipelines. Laboratory research spins out new roles for octylamine all the time, from catalysis to functional materials. Ask anyone who runs a product development lab, and they will confirm the wide footprint octylamine leaves across chemistry fields.
Progress in octylamine chemistry follows both market needs and scientific curiosity. Research teams develop gentler, greener synthesis routes—using less toxic reagents or lower energy inputs. Surface chemists build complex molecules on octylamine’s backbone, introducing new surfactant and emulsifier designs every year. The pharmaceutical sector studies its interaction with drug targets. By piecing together octylamine derivatives, scientists learn more about drug delivery and bioavailability. Most exciting, perhaps, are the projects that tackle environmental impact: seeking biodegradable, low-toxicity alternatives for cleaning products, water treatment, and polymer modification. R&D teams push the boundaries, seeking ways around regulatory bans and tight environmental controls while still harnessing octylamine’s unique chemistry.
Several studies have shown the acute and chronic risks octylamine presents. Even moderate exposure—through inhalation or skin—can trigger respiratory issues, burns, and delayed allergic reactions. Rat LD50 figures hover around 270 mg/kg, which places it among moderately toxic chemicals by ingestion. Researchers keep a close eye on its long-term effects in aquatic environments, tracking its breakdown products and persistence in water. Lab protocols reflect these risks, building multiple layers of protection into every procedure. Industry has made progress in developing less hazardous analogs or encapsulation methods, but handling octylamine with vigilance still stands as the smartest—and safest—policy.
Expectations for octylamine balance ongoing industrial demand with public health and sustainability goals. New environmental legislation limits its direct release into waterways, so companies work on closed systems, recycling, and process improvements to cut emissions. Researchers develop biodegradable versions aimed at minimizing lasting footprints in the environment. Clean-energy sectors look at octylamine derivatives as possible mediators in advanced battery systems or new polymer blends. With each round of innovations, the chemical’s future pivots on meeting higher safety, environmental, and performance standards. Those able to adapt, whether through smarter manufacturing or inventive chemistry, will shape the next chapter for octylamine and its role in a changing industrial world.
Octylamine, a colorless liquid with a strong smell, doesn't get much public attention, but manufacturers keep coming back to it. Its eight-carbon alkyl chain gives it a slippery quality, useful in quite a few industries. Whenever people ask about chemicals behind the products we use every day—whether paints, pesticides, or simple cleaning stuff—octylamine has a role, quietly supporting the performance of these items.
Most people never hear its name, but octylamine finds its way into things we use or need. Paint companies use it to help pigment particles spread evenly and stay suspended in liquid. In my early career, I worked in a coatings firm where clumping ruined production runs. Adding a little octylamine made a huge difference. The paint kept its smoothness, and clogged sprayers hardly ever showed up again.
Farmers and landscapers sometimes owe cleaner crops to octylamine too. With its ability to boost the performance of pesticide formulations, each droplet of spray lands more evenly. In one season, a grower I know saw less runoff and better pest control after switching to a product with an optimized amine blend—including octylamine.
Octylamine doesn’t just float around in finished products. Chemists reach for it when they need a starting material for making other chemicals. It's like having the perfect wrench for a stubborn bolt; some reactions move faster or produce less gunk when octylamine is in the mix. For example, making certain medicines or surfactants gets easier, with fewer byproducts gumming up the process.
Labs also use octylamine to pull out copper and other metals during mineral processing. This isn’t well known unless you’ve walked through the loud halls of a metal refinery or watched barrels of chemicals roll out of storage.
Octylamine isn’t the sort of thing to handle carelessly. The strong odor hints at its toxicity. If it gets on skin, there’s a strong burning sensation. A colleague once spilled a small amount and ended up needing medical attention. That memory stays fresh in my mind, every time I pass a drum of the liquid.
Labeling, safe transport, and proper training keep problems away. Strict storage rules and protective equipment set a helpful barrier between people and the chemical’s harsh side. This care doesn’t just protect workers—it stops leaks that could seep into water or soil.
Octylamine has plenty of practical uses, but it’s not immune to scrutiny. Scientists and policy makers keep asking how to limit environmental harm. Modern plants track exactly how much goes in and out, recycle scraps, and look for alternatives if better options show up. With more green chemistry research, future substitutes may offer the same benefits without the hazards.
The story of octylamine mirrors much of industrial progress: powerful, useful, and worth respect. The more I see of chemical manufacturing, the more I respect both the invisible helpers and the need for common sense and clear rules. If cleaner, safer processes become the new standard, both the industry and the environment stand to gain.
Octylamine has always triggered some curiosity in laboratories and classrooms alike. Folks talk about chemical formulas like they’re only equations on a board, but these formulas shape basic products in industry and research. Octylamine, with its formula C8H19N, offers a clear example. Each molecule features eight carbon atoms strung in a chain, a dose of hydrogen, and a nitrogen atom sitting at the end. This simple skeleton gives octylamine its identity and drives its role in countless chemical reactions.
Eight carbons mean octylamine carries some heft as far as solvents and surfactants go. It’s not just a name in a textbook. I’ve seen octylamine take the spotlight during experiments where a gentle but firm base makes all the difference. It’s less volatile than shorter-chain amines and not as greasy as those with longer carbon tails. Ask anyone making organic syntheses or producing corrosion inhibitors—octylamine earns its keep because it reacts smoothly with acids, forms stable ammonium salts, and dissolves in both water and oil-based solutions. Large chemical companies keep it in steady supply since it acts as a building block for pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and dyes.
Back in my university days, formulas like C8H19N gave students the edge when predicting behavior in a reaction flask. Miss out on a single carbon, and you might find your reaction fizzling or your product contaminated. The structure determines the boiling point—octylamine boils near 178°C—which in turn defines how it should be handled in labs and manufacturing floors. Safety data sheets ask for chemical formulas because responders need to know exactly what they’re dealing with in spills or fires.
Manufacturers link the formula to product specifications. For example, anyone working in industrial coatings or adhesives needs raw materials with consistent performance. Cross-checking the formula on a drum of octylamine helps spot impurities or mislabeling long before they lead to spoiled batches and wasted money.
No one can ignore that octylamine, true to many amines, comes with a strong odor and potential for irritation. Anyone using this compound should keep gloves and goggles close. Fume hoods become essential in cramped campus labs as well as large-scale facilities filled with drums and pipes. I’ve noticed that community colleges and chemical plants now double down on safety training and proper storage since a spill of a few liters can lead to headaches and more. Solutions start with a clear label carrying the correct formula, updated training, and a culture where speaking up about safety lapses is routine—not an exception.
Chemicals like octylamine often stay behind the scenes, but their formulas matter in every part of their journey, from the supplier’s inventory system to the high school classroom. That attention to detail—knowing C8H19N means octylamine—translates to better outcomes, safer workplaces, and fewer surprises on lab day. Even the best equipment doesn’t replace the value of careful eyes on each container and respect for what these formulas truly mean.
Octylamine pops up across industries—whether factories use it in plastic production, oil refineries treat it as a corrosion inhibitor, or research labs tap it for organic synthesis. The real question is: how risky is it to handle this stuff?
Folks hear “amine,” and alarm bells go off. There’s a good reason. Amines, as a class, cause trouble for skin, eyes, lungs—the body doesn’t take kindly to their touch or fumes. Octylamine follows that trend. If it splashes your skin, expect redness, maybe some burns. Breathing in vapors stings the nose, makes you cough, and can irritate your lungs. Long exposures indoors, without fresh air or proper protection, become a major concern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) includes octylamine among chemicals requiring gloves, goggles, and strong ventilation.
A common question comes up—does octylamine just cause irritation, or does it pose something worse? Animal testing gives some clues. According to safety publications by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the oral LD50 in rats sits between 200-260 mg per kilogram. For perspective, that means a modest dose can cause real damage. While it isn’t as deadly as some industrial chemicals, it doesn’t take high numbers to trigger symptoms.
Octylamine in the eyes leads to severe pain and possible injury. Repeated skin contact can dry skin and bring about allergic reactions. It’s not regarded as a cancer risk or a mutagen—so cancer isn’t the biggest worry. Chronic exposure, though, could mess with the liver or kidneys, based on studies from the European Chemicals Agency. Factories know this and keep strict rules, setting exposure limits and using monitoring systems on-site.
The story doesn’t stop with people. If spilled or released, octylamine harms aquatic life too. It’s toxic to fish and organisms in water, which means factories have to keep a close watch on their disposal methods. In my days working alongside wastewater treatment operations, I saw firsthand how dangerous these kinds of chemicals can be—one slip and the whole system goes off-balance.
Many risks drop dramatically with the right equipment. A factory with exhaust fans, glove policies, eye wash stations, and thorough worker training sees far fewer injuries. Workers who respect the dangers and use their protective gear avoid trouble most of the time. Training matters, especially for new hires or contractors who aren’t used to chemical rules.
Simple measures still make a big difference at home. Keep octylamine locked away from food, out of reach of kids, and tightly sealed. If a spill happens, absorb it with sand or special pads—never down the drain, since that sends the problem to lakes and rivers.
The chemical industry keeps tweaking formulas to use less dangerous substitutes. Safer alternatives reduce risks for both people and the planet. For some older factories, that switch isn’t always practical yet, but newer plants have more options on the table than ever before.
Anyone handling octylamine knows ignoring the risks—or cutting corners—comes back to bite. The facts show this is no harmless substance, but with respect, education, and decent safety gear, the dangers stay manageable. Paying attention protects workers, families, and anything living downstream.
Octylamine shows up in a range of applications, from organic synthesis to corrosion inhibitors. Opening a drum of this liquid tells you right away: strong odor, volatility, and a warning for your eyes and skin. I remember working with it during a university research project. Getting lazy about storage never ended well. A leaky cap quickly filled the whole lab with a stench that got everyone’s attention. That experience convinced me that safe storage routines aren't just over-cautious procedures—they’re non-negotiable.
Store octylamine in a tightly sealed container. Glass works for the lab, but stainless steel makes sense for large-scale needs. Some colleagues once tried plastic and ended up learning the hard way that amines can eat through weak polyethylene.
Fresh air makes a big difference. Always pick a well-ventilated spot that keeps vapors from building up. Over the years, I’ve met more than a few chemists who thought a stuffy storeroom worked fine until headaches, eye irritation, and complaints started stacking up. Ventilation stops fumes from traveling through the building, and it spares you from unexpected chemical reactions with unknown materials.
Temperature control gives peace of mind. Hot summers with sweaty storerooms can raise the pressure in octylamine containers faster than you think. Keep it cool and out of direct sunlight. In my own practice, I always check that the storage area sits below 25°C. Heat brings out the flammability and can pump up the vapor pressure, which leads to swelling or cracked seals.
Moisture always spells trouble for chemicals like this. Damp air encourages reactions with carbon dioxide or acids that might sneak into the storeroom. Silica gel packets or a low-humidity cabinet keep things dry. Don’t keep octylamine near sinks, wash stations, or windows with condensation.
Octylamine reacts with acids, oxidizers, and even some cleaning chemicals. Every experienced handler keeps its storage section well apart from other reactive materials. I once heard a story from a friend in plant maintenance: someone stacked acids on the same shelf. Over a weekend, vapors mixed and started corroding everything nearby. It cost weeks of investigation and repairs. Label shelves. Keep inventories up-to-date. Assign a “no exceptions” rule to ensure segregation stays tight.
Visibility makes all the difference. Store containers at eye level or below—never up high where reaching over your head leads to risky spills. Signage matters, too. Flammable and toxic warning labels tell everyone, not just chemists, what lies inside. A fire-resistant cabinet offers solid protection, especially if local regulations ask for it. I keep a storage log and review expiry dates every quarter. Old, compromised octylamine doesn’t just become useless; it grows more hazardous.
The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) emphasize flammability, toxicity, and reactivity risks. Inhaling vapors or skin contact brings headaches, nausea, burns, or worse. Fire departments often report that chemical fires get harder to put out because incompatible substances sat together too long or stored in the wrong materials.
So, smart storage comes down to simple actions: sturdy containers, ventilated and cool locations, total separation, clear labeling, and regular checks. Mistakes leave lasting damage, even with a small spill. Safety isn’t a luxury—it’s the baseline for good practice.
Octylamine stands out as a colorless liquid that might remind someone of clear mineral oil at first glance. The odor comes across as ammonia-like, catching your attention quickly if you’re working anywhere near an open container. In a lab, this means adequate ventilation goes from a good idea to a real necessity. Personal experience says a little spill in a closed space won't be forgotten soon.
Handling this compound, you’ll notice it doesn’t freeze easily. The freezing point, hovering around -10°C, allows it to stay liquid even on a cold winter day. Heating it up shows more action: it boils at roughly 175°C. That high boiling point gives users some leeway in processing or storing it, compared to common solvents that boil off much sooner. People in chemical plants appreciate this vapor stubbornness because it means less fuss over loss from evaporation.
Drop some octylamine in water and you get a separation right away—it barely mixes, dissolving only a little (about 1.1 grams for every liter of water at room temperature). That makes it easy to fish it back out or handle cleanup with less dilution waste. Toss it into organic fluids like hexane or ether and it blends in easily. Organic chemists rely on these properties when setting up syntheses or extractions, saving both time and headaches.
Octylamine feels oily and it carries a lower density than water—about 0.783 grams per cubic centimeter. It floats and forms small beads if you drip it on a wet surface. This helps during separation steps in industrial work or laboratory tasks. Its viscosity lies on the thinner side, flowing much like a light machine oil. That’s useful if you’re moving it through pumps or glassware.
Working with this compound brings safety concerns front and center. Octylamine catches fire more easily than water: its flash point sits near 70°C. An open flame or a hot plate close by can ignite it, so storing away from ignition sources turns crucial. U.S. safety sheets list it as a combustible liquid. While handling, gloves, goggles, and a chemical fume hood take the top slot in safety priorities. Unlike some skin irritants, octylamine can penetrate and burn a bit—my own first experience left a reminder to never skip gloves, even for a quick transfer.
Octylamine’s everyday properties—appearance, smell, temperature behavior, and solubility—shape how folks in labs and factories approach both routine tasks and emergencies. Understanding these points means fewer accidents, smoother processes, and better results. Being aware of its tendencies not only lets production lines run safely, it cuts down on waste and surprise headaches. The biggest lesson from the trenches: anyone can read a data sheet, but really knowing the feel and quirks of a compound makes all the difference in daily work.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | Octan-1-amine |
| Other names |
n-Octylamine
1-Octanamine Octan-1-amine Octyl amine |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɒk.tɪl.əˌmiːn/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 111-86-4 |
| 3D model (JSmol) | `JSMEchem('CCCCCCCCN')` |
| Beilstein Reference | 636104 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:39297 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL135122 |
| ChemSpider | 6430 |
| DrugBank | DB14162 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.003.435 |
| EC Number | 203-682-4 |
| Gmelin Reference | 3433 |
| KEGG | C01730 |
| MeSH | D017367 |
| PubChem CID | 8064 |
| RTECS number | RG0175000 |
| UNII | V5C86OFRN5 |
| UN number | UN2735 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C8H19N |
| Molar mass | 129.25 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless to yellow liquid |
| Odor | Ammonia-like |
| Density | 0.782 g/mL |
| Solubility in water | Slightly soluble |
| log P | 0.16 |
| Vapor pressure | 0.53 mmHg (25 °C) |
| Acidity (pKa) | 10.6 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 3.35 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -5.92×10⁻⁶ |
| Refractive index (nD) | nD 1.440 |
| Viscosity | 2.36 mPa·s (20 °C) |
| Dipole moment | 1.35 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 328.7 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -178.3 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -4817.7 kJ/mol |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS05, GHS06, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | GHS07,GHS08,GHS09 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | Harmful if swallowed. Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. Toxic to aquatic life. |
| Precautionary statements | P260, P261, P264, P271, P273, P280, P301+P310, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P310, P321, P330, P362+P364, P403+P233, P405, P501 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | Health: 3, Flammability: 3, Instability: 0, Special: |
| Flash point | > 63 °C |
| Autoignition temperature | 350°C |
| Explosive limits | 1.2% - 7% |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 (oral, rat): 373 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): Oral rat 373 mg/kg |
| NIOSH | UN1220 |
| PEL (Permissible) | PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) of Octylamine: 5 ppm (skin) |
| REL (Recommended) | 50 mg/m³ |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | 140 ppm |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
n-Butylamine
Hexylamine Decylamine Dodecylamine Laurylamine Cetylamine Stearylamine Aniline Cyclohexylamine |
