Tetraethylammonium

The tetraethylammonium ion is a monovalent cation with the chemical formula C8H20N ( (C2H5 ) 4N ). It consists of a nitrogen atom which is tetrahedrally surrounded by four ethyl radicals and thus belongs to the group of quaternary ammonium compounds. Formally, it is derived from the ammonium ion by substitution of hydrogen atoms by ethyl radicals from. The tetraethylammonium ion belongs to the weakly -coordinating cations. There are a large number of Tetraethylammoniumsalzen the general formula C8H20NX, wherein X represents a monovalent anion.

Representation

Tetraethylammonium salts can be prepared by reacting triethylamine with substituted ethyl compounds, wherein the substituent is a leaving group, which usually will act as a counter ion of the salt.

The counter-ion can, however, also be replaced then:

Use

It is a neurotoxin that is used inter alia in neurophysiology to block potassium channels in experiments on neurons. TEA blocked the voltage-activated potassium channels, which are required for repolarization of the membrane potential by an action potential.

Salts

Tetraethylammonium salts formed with anions. Important are:

• Tetraethylammonium bromide ( CAS number: 71-91-0 )
• Tetraethylammonium chloride ( CAS number: 56-34-8 )
• Tetraethylammonium cyanide ( CAS Number: 13435-20-6 )
• Tetraethylammonium hydroxide ( CAS number: 77-98-5 )
• Tetraethylammonium iodide ( CAS number: 68-05-3 )
• Tetraethylammoniumnitrat ( CAS Number: 1941-26-0 )
• Tetraethylammoniumperfluoroctansulfonat ( CAS Number: 56773-42-3 )