Tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) is an organic compound and is in the class of chemicals known as ethyleneamines. It is a slightly viscous liquid and is not colorless but, like many amines, has a yellow color. It is soluble in most polar solvents. Diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetramine (TETA), piperazine, and aminoethylpiperazine are also usually present in commercial available TEPA.[1]
The reactivity and uses of TEPA are similar to those for the related ethylene amines ethylenediamine and diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine. It is primarily used as a curing agent or hardener in epoxy chemistry. This can be on its own or reacted with tall oil fatty acid (TOFA) and its dimer to make an amidoamine.[2] This amidoamine is then used as the curing agent for epoxy resin systems. TEPA is a pentadentate ligand in coordination chemistry.