The multistep process uses aluminium, hydrogen gas, and ethylene, summarized as follows:[4] Because of this efficient synthesis, triethylaluminium is one of the most available organoaluminium compounds.

Reduction of ethylaluminium sesquichloride with an alkali metal such as sodium gives triethylaluminium:[9] The Al–C bonds of triethylaluminium are polarized to such an extent that the carbon is easily protonated, releasing ethane:[10] For this reaction, even weak acids can be employed such as terminal acetylenes and alcohols.

The linkage between the pair of aluminium centres is relatively weak and can be cleaved by Lewis bases (L) to give adducts with the formula AlEt3L: Triethylaluminium is used industrially as an intermediate in the production of fatty alcohols, which are converted to detergents.

The first step involves the oligomerization of ethylene by the Aufbau reaction, which gives a mixture of trialkylaluminium compounds (simplified here as octyl groups):[4] Subsequently, these trialkyl compounds are oxidized to aluminium alkoxides, which are then hydrolysed: A large amount of TEAL and related aluminium alkyls are used in Ziegler-Natta catalysis.

[1] Triethylaluminium thickened with polyisobutylene is used as an incendiary weapon, as a pyrophoric alternative to napalm; e.g., in the M74 clip holding four rockets for the M202A1 launchers.

For example, n-hexane, can be used with increased safety by rendering the compound non-pyrophoric until the diluent evaporates, at which point a combined fireball results from both the triethylaluminium and the hexane vapors.