2,5-Xylidine

2,5-Xylidine is an organic compound with the formula C6H3(CH3)2NH2. It is one of several isomeric xylidines. It is a colorless viscous liquid. Commercially significant derivatives include Solvent Yellow 30, Solvent Red 22, Acid Red 65, and Solvent Red 26.
 * [[Image:Solvent Red 26.png|thumb|left|Solvent Red 26 is a commercial dye prepared from 2,5-xylidine]]

Production
Like many xylidines, it is prepared by nitration of the corresponding xylene followed by reduction of the nitroxylene. Reduction can be effected with HCl/Fe, but usually is achieved by catalytic hydrogenation:
 * Me2C6H4 +  HNO3   →   Me2C6H3NO2  +  H2O
 * Me2C6H3NO2 +  3 H2   →   Me2C6H3NH2  +  3H2O

Safety
It is mutagenic and tumor-inducing. Acute toxicity of xylidines is modest as indicated by LD50 (rats, oral) are in the range 0.1-1 g/kg.