Lepidine, or 4-methylquinoline, is an organic compound with the formula . It is one of the two commercially important methyl quinolines. It is a colorless liquid, although impure samples can appear yellow.

Its methyl group is fairly acidic, allowing for condensationss to occur at this position, especially when the nitrogen is quaternized. It is used in the preparation of cyanine dyes.

Oxidation with selenium dioxide gives the aldehyde .

See also

• Quinaldine, the isomer with the methyl group in position 2.

• Quinoline

References