N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine is an ethylenediamine derivative in which each nitrogen carries two methyl substituents. It is widely employed both as a ligand for metal ions and as a catalyst in organic polymerisation. It has a role as a chelator and a catalyst.
TEMED (N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethylethylenediamine) is molecule which allows rapid polymerization of polyacrylamide gels. In the presence of ammonium persulfate, TEMED is responsible for the formation of free radicals from persulfate, thereby initiating the acrylamide polymerization process. However, excess concentration of TEMED can result in abnormal separation patterns