Xylidine can refer to any of the six isomer

Isomer

In chemistry, isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulas. Isomers do not necessarily share similar properties, unless they also have the same functional groups. There are many different classes of isomers, like stereoisomers, enantiomers, geometrical...

s of xylene

Xylene

Xylene encompasses three isomers of dimethylbenzene. The isomers are distinguished by the designations ortho- , meta- , and para- , which specify to which carbon atoms the two methyl groups are attached...

 amine

Amine

Amines are organic compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are derivatives of ammonia, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent such as an alkyl or aryl group. Important amines include amino acids, biogenic amines,...

, or any mixture of them. All isomers are toxic.

The chemical formula of xylidines is C₈H₁₁N, or (CH₃)₂C₆H₃NH₂. They are stable and combustible and react with strong oxidizing agents. They may be light sensitive. The CAS number for the isomer mixture is . They are typically yellow liquids (except 3,4-xylidine which is solid) that darken when exposed to air and light. They are miscible with ethanol

Ethanol

Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...

 and diethyl ether

Diethyl ether

Diethyl ether, also known as ethyl ether, simply ether, or ethoxyethane, is an organic compound in the ether class with the formula . It is a colorless, highly volatile flammable liquid with a characteristic odor...

 and little soluble in water.

Xylidines are produced as byproducts of fractional distillation

Fractional distillation

Fractional distillation is the separation of a mixture into its component parts, or fractions, such as in separating chemical compounds by their boiling point by heating them to a temperature at which several fractions of the compound will evaporate. It is a special type of distillation...

 of coal tar

Coal tar

Coal tar is a brown or black liquid of extremely high viscosity, which smells of naphthalene and aromatic hydrocarbons. Coal tar is among the by-products when coal iscarbonized to make coke or gasified to make coal gas...

.

Their risk and safety phrases are .

Xylidines are chiefly used in production of pigment

Pigment

A pigment is a material that changes the color of reflected or transmitted light as the result of wavelength-selective absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which a material emits light.Many materials selectively absorb...

s and dye

Dye

A dye is a colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied. The dye is generally applied in an aqueous solution, and requires a mordant to improve the fastness of the dye on the fiber....

stuffs, and also various antioxidant

Antioxidant

An antioxidant is a molecule capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions. When...

s, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and many other organic chemicals.

Xylidines are also used as a component of the Tonka rocket fuel

Tonka (fuel)

Tonka is the name given to a German-designed rocket propellant; it has also been used by North Korea and by the Soviet Union....

.

2,3-xylidine

2,3-xylidine, also called o-xylidine, 2,3-dimethylaniline, 2,3-xylylamine, or 2,3-dimethylphenylamine, is a liquid with melting point 2.5 °C and boiling point 222 °C, and flash point

Flash point

The flash point of a volatile material is the lowest temperature at which it can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air. Measuring a flash point requires an ignition source...

 at 96 °C. It is used in production of mefenamic acid

Mefenamic acid

Mefenamic acid is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat pain, including menstrual pain. It is typically prescribed for oral administration. Mefenamic acid is marketed in the USA as Ponstel....

, dyes, and pesticides.

2,4-xylidine

2,4-xylidine, also called 2-methyl-p-toluidine, 2,4-dimethylaniline, 2,4-xylylamine, or 2,4-dimethylphenylamine, is a liquid with melting point 16 °C, boiling point 217 °C, and flash point

Flash point

The flash point of a volatile material is the lowest temperature at which it can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air. Measuring a flash point requires an ignition source...

 at 90 °C. It is used for production of pesticides, dyes, and other chemicals.

2,5-xylidine

2,5-xylidine, also called p-xylidine, 2,5-dimethylaniline, 2,5-xylylamine, or 2,5-dimethylphenylamine, is a liquid with melting point 11.5 °C and boiling point 215 °C. It is used for production of dyes and other chemicals.

2,6-xylidine

2,6-Xylidine, also called 2,6-dimethylaniline, 2,6-xylylamine, or 2,6-dimethylphenylamine, is a liquid with melting point 8.4 °C and boiling point 216 °C. It is used in production of some anesthetics and other chemicals.

3,4-xylidine

3,4-xylidine, also called 3,4-dimethylaniline, 3,4-xylylamine, or 3,4-dimethylphenylamine, is a crystalline solid with melting point 51 °C and boiling point 226 °C. It is used as a raw material for production of vitamin B₂, dyes, pesticides, and other chemicals.

3,5-xylidine

3,5-xylidine, also called 3,5-dimethylaniline, 3,5-xylylamine, or 3,5-dimethylphenylamine, is a liquid with melting point 9.8 °C and boiling point 220–221 °C. It is used for production of pesticides, dyes, and other chemicals.