N,N-Diisopropylethylamine

N,N-Diisopropylethylamine, or Hünig’s base, DIPEA or DIEA, is an organic compound and an amine. It is used in organic chemistry as a base. Because the nitrogen center is shielded by the two isopropyl groups and an ethyl group, it can only bond to protons. Thus, like 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine, Hünig’s base is a good base but a poor nucleophile, a combination of properties that makes it a useful organic reagent. Hünig’s base is named after the German chemist Siegfried Hünig. The compound is a colorless liquid, although commercial samples can have a yellow tint.
Hünig’s base is commercially available. It is traditionally prepared by the alkylation of diisopropylamine with diethyl sulfate. If necessary, the compound can be purified by distillation from potassium hydroxide.

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