In the industrial production, MDA is produced by reaction of formaldehyde and aniline in the presence of hydrochloric acid.

[6][7] Lower quantities are used as hardeners in epoxy resins and adhesives, as well as in the production of high-performance polymers.

[3] Additionally, hydrogenation of MDA can be performed to produce 4,4,diaminodicyclohexylmethane, which is also used in polymer chemistry.

[8] MDA can also be applied as a bidentate (bridging) ligand in the formation of metal-coordination complexes.

[6] It is included in the "substances of very high concern" list of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).