Methanamine

Methylamine(74-89-5) was first prepared by Wurtz by the hydrolysis of methylisocyanate and related compounds.

Reported in EPA TSCA Inventory.

OSHA PEL: TWA 10 ppm
ACGIH TLV: TWA 5 ppm; STEL 15 ppm
DFG MAK: 10 ppm (13 mg/m³)
DOT Classification:  2.3; Label: Poison Gas, Flammable Gas (UN 1061); DOT Class: 3; Label: Flammable Liquid, Corrosive (UN 1235)

For occupational chemical analysis use OSHA: #40.

The IUPAC name of this chemical is methanamine. With the CAS registry number 74-89-5, it is also named as Aminomethane. The product's categories are Refrigerants; Alkylamines; Biochemistry; Monofunctional & alpha,omega-Bifunctional Alkanes; Monofunctional Alkanes; Reagents for Oligosaccharide Synthesis. It is colourless gas which is soluble in water, ethanol and ether. In addition, it is the simplest primary amine. It is sold as a solution in methanol, ethanol, THF, and water, or as the anhydrous gas in pressurized metal containers. It is flammable by fire and heat. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NO_x. So the storage environment should be ventilate, low-temperature and dry.

The other characteristics of this product can be summarized as: (1)ACD/LogP: -0.66; (2)# of Rule of 5 Violations: 0; (3)ACD/LogD (pH 5.5): -3.76; (4)ACD/LogD (pH 7.4): -3.54; (5)ACD/BCF (pH 5.5): 1; (6)ACD/BCF (pH 7.4): 1; (7)ACD/KOC (pH 5.5): 1; (8)ACD/KOC (pH 7.4): 1; (9)#H bond acceptors: 1; (10)#H bond donors: 2; (11)#Freely Rotating Bonds: 0; (12)Index of Refraction: 1.34; (13)Molar Refractivity: 10.21 cm³; (14)Molar Volume: 48.7 cm³; (15)Polarizability: 4.05×10^-24 cm³; (16)Surface Tension: 18.4 dyne/cm; (17)Enthalpy of Vaporization: 25.6 kJ/mol; (18)Vapour Pressure: 3970 mmHg at 25°C; (19)Exact Mass: 31.042199; (20)MonoIsotopic Mass: 31.042199; (21)Topological Polar Surface Area: 26; (22)Heavy Atom Count: 2; (23)Complexity: 2.

Preparation of Methylamine: It can be obtained by many methods. For example: it is produced by the reaction of ammonia with methanol in the presence of a silicoaluminate catalyst. Dimethylamine and trimethylamine are coproduced. CH₃OH + NH₃ → CH₃NH₂ + H₂O 
2CH₃OH+NH₃→(CH₃)₂NH+2H₂O
3CH₃OH+NH₃→(CH₃)₃N+3H₂O

Uses of Methylamine: It is widely used in manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, explosives, dyes, photographic developer, vulcanization accelerators, surfactants, preservatives, etc. And it is a good nucleophile as it is highly basic and unhindered, though, as an amine it is considered a weak base. Its use in organic chemistry is pervasive. Liquid methylamine can be used as a solvent analogous to liquid ammonia. Methylamine can also be used for scavenging H₂S from hydrocarbon in refining applications. Furthermore, it is used as a building block for the synthesis of many other commercially available compounds.

When you are using this chemical, please be cautious about it as the following:
It is extremely flammable and can cause burns, so people should keep it away from sources of ignition. And it is not only toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed, but also irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin. So it must not empty into drains. In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice. If you want to contact this product, you must wear suitable protective clothing, gloves and eye/face protection. In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek medical advice immediately (show the label whenever possible.) 

People can use the following data to convert to the molecule structure.
1. SMILES:NC
2. InChI:InChI=1/CH5N/c1-2/h2H2,1H3 
3. InChIKey:BAVYZALUXZFZLV-UHFFFAOYAN

The following are the toxicity data which has been tested.

Organism	Test Type	Route	Reported Dose (Normalized Dose)	Effect	Source
guinea pig	LDLo	subcutaneous	200mg/kg (200mg/kg)		"Abdernalden's Handbuch der Biologischen Arbeitsmethoden." Vol. 4, Pg. 1289, 1935.
mammal (species unspecified)	LC50	inhalation	2400mg/m3 (2400mg/m3)		Toksikologiya Novykh Promyshlennykh Khimicheskikh Veshchestv. Toxicology of New Industrial Chemical Substances. For English translation, see TNICS*. Vol. 14, Pg. 80, 1975.
mouse	LC50	inhalation	2400mg/m3/2H (2400mg/m3)		"Toxicometric Parameters of Industrial Toxic Chemicals Under Single Exposure," Izmerov, N.F., et al., Moscow, Centre of International Projects, GKNT, 1982Vol. -, Pg. 81, 1982.
mouse	LDLo	subcutaneous	2500mg/kg (2500mg/kg)		"Merck Index; an Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals", 11th ed., Rahway, NJ 07065, Merck & Co., Inc. 1989Vol. 11, Pg. 949, 1989.
rat	LC50	inhalation	448ppm/2.5H (448ppm)	SENSE ORGANS AND SPECIAL SENSES: LACRIMATION: EYE LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: DYSPNEA SKIN AND APPENDAGES (SKIN): "DERMATITIS, IRRITATIVE: AFTER SYSTEMIC EXPOSURE"	Journal of Environmental Biology. Vol. 13, Pg. 273, 1992.
rat	LD50	oral	100mg/kg (100mg/kg)		Inhalation Toxicology. Vol. 2, Pg. 29, 1990.
rat	LDLo	subcutaneous	200mg/kg (200mg/kg)		"Abdernalden's Handbuch der Biologischen Arbeitsmethoden." Vol. 4, Pg. 1289, 1935.