It is a colorless solid that darkens in air due to oxidation.

[1] It is prepared by reduction of 1,8-dinitronaphthalene, which in turn is obtained as a mixture of isomers by nitration of 1-nitronaphthalene.

Upon treatment with phthalic anhydride derivatives, the diamine converts to phthaloperinones.

It is a precursor to 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene.

This compound used to produce perimidines by various aldehydes.