4-Dimethylaminopyridine is a dialkylarylamine and a tertiary amino compound.

4-Dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) is a new and highly efficient catalyst widely used in chemical synthesis in recent years. It is also extensively applied in the total and semi-synthesis of complex natural products, such as acetylation in the total synthesis of pravastatin and trifluoroacetylation in the total synthesis of tubercidin.