m-Phenylenediamine, also called 1,3-diaminobenzene, is an organic compound

Organic compound

An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of carbon-containing compounds such as carbides, carbonates, simple oxides of carbon, and cyanides, as well as the...

 with the formula

Chemical formula

A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....

 C₆H₄(NH₂)₂. It is an isomer of o-phenylenediamine

O-Phenylenediamine

o-Phenylenediamine is a organic compound with the formula C6H42. This aromatic diamine is an important precursor to many heterocyclic compounds...

 and p-phenylenediamine

P-Phenylenediamine

p-Phenylenediamine is an organic compound with the formula C6H42. This derivative of aniline is a colorless solid, but typically samples can contain yellowish impurities arising from oxidation. It is mainly used as a component of engineering polymers and composites. It is also an ingredient in...

. It is a colourless solid.
m-Phenylenediamine is produced by hydrogenation of 1,3-dinitrobenzene. The dinitrobenzene is prepared by dinitration

Nitration

Nitration is a general chemical process for the introduction of a nitro group into a chemical compound. The dominant application of nitration is for the production of nitrobenzene, the precursor to methylene diphenyl diisocyanate...

 of benzene.
m-Phenylenediamine is used in the preparation various polymer

Polymer

A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...

s including aramid

Aramid

Aramid fibers are a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers. They are used in aerospace and military applications, for ballistic rated body armor fabric and ballistic composites, in bicycle tires, and as an asbestos substitute. The name is a portmanteau of "aromatic polyamide"...

 fibers, epoxy resins, wire enamel coatings and polyurea elastomer

Elastomer

An elastomer is a polymer with the property of viscoelasticity , generally having notably low Young's modulus and high yield strain compared with other materials. The term, which is derived from elastic polymer, is often used interchangeably with the term rubber, although the latter is preferred...

s.