Formaldehyde, ammonia reaction

Mannich reaction is the condensation between formaldehyde, ammonia, or a primary or secondary amine (preferably as the hydrochloride), and a compound containing at least one active hydrogen atom... 

Primary and secondary nitroalkanes, dinitromethane, and terminal em-dinitroaliphatic compounds like 1,1-dinitroethane, all contain acidic protons and have been used to generate Mannich products. Formaldehyde is commonly used in these reactions although the use of other aliphatic aldehydes has been reported. The nitroalkane component is frequently generated in situ from its methylol derivative, a reaction which also generates formaldehyde. Ammonia, " aliphatic amines, " hydrazine, and even urea have been used as the amine component of Mannich reactions. 

Adding aqueous formaldehyde solution to a reaction kettle can also make Hexamine. Then ammonia gas (in a 3 2 formaldehyde/ammonia mole ratio) is added. During the addition of the reactants, the temperature is maintained at about 20 to 30°C. The reaction mixture is then fed to a vacuum evaporator where it is maintained at a temperature between 30 and 50X1 and at a pH of 7 to 8252. 

The gas phase acid-catalyzed synthesis of pyridines from formaldehyde, ammonia and an alkanal is a complex reaction sequence, comprising at least two aldol condensations, an imine formation, a cyclization and a dehydrogenation (9). With acetaldehyde as the alkanal, a mixture of pyridine and picolines (methylpyridines) is formed. In comparison with amorphous catalysts, zeolites display superior performance, particularly those with MFI or BEA topology. Because formation of higher alkylpyridines is impeded in the shape-selective environment, the lifetime of zeolites is much improved in comparison with that of amorphous materials. Moreover, the catalytic performance can be enhanced by doping the structure with metals such as Pb, Co or Tl, which assist in the dehydrogenation. 

Formaldehyde diethyl dithioacetal can also be metalated by sodamide in liquid ammonia. Reaction of butyl bromide leads to an 84% yield of pentanal diethyl bisthioacetal 398,399... 

When an aqueous solution of formaldehyde is treated with ammonia, reaction takes place with the formation of a substance of complex structure possessing weakly basic properties, called hexamethylene tetramine —... 

To achieve cure, therefore, a hardener has to be added to the adhesive formulation. Suitable compounds are hexamethylene tetramine (hexamine) and paraformaldehyde as both are formaldehyde donors. In the case of the hexamine, thermal breakdown, in the presence of the water produced by the phenol/formaldehyde condensation reaction, not only yields more formaldehyde but also ammonia, which can help catalyse the reaction. 

Since sucrose might seem to be an ideal monomer in polymerization reactions, a very large variety of reactions of this type have been investigated in Sugar Research Foundation supported projects. In the 1940 s, ethylene oxide was combined with sucrose, but the products obtained did not lend themselves directly to commercial development. The first intensive efforts to produce polymers occurred concurrently with the sugar ester detergent activities in the 1950 s. These efforts included studies of the polymerization of sucrose with urea, vinyl acetate,phenol and formaldehyde, ammonia cuid hydrogen, melamine and formaldehyde and meuiy other variations. 

Trimene base ethyl chloride, formaldehyde and ammonia reaction product manufactured by Uni Royal Chemicals. 

Amongst the early amines recommended were triethylene tetra-mine, tetraethylene pentamine and a proprietary material, Trimene Base (Uniroyal Inc.) said to be a reaction product of ethyl chloride, formaldehyde and ammonia. Reaction was believed to proceed by the following mechanism ... 

Chem. Descrip. Formaldehyde, ammonia, ethyl chloride reaction prod. 

The Mannich Reaction involves the condensation of formaldehyde with ammonia or a primary or secondary amine and with a third compound containing a reactive methylene group these compounds are most frequently those in which the methylene group is activated by a neighbouring keto group. Thus when acetophenone is boiled in ethanolic solution with paraformaldehyde and dimethylamine hydrochloride, condensation occurs readily with the formation of... 

The expression template reaction indicates mostly a reaction in which a complexed me) ion holds reactive groups in the correct orientation to allow selective multi-step reactions. T1 template effect of the metal is twofold (i) polymerization reactions are suppressed, since th local concentration of reactants around the metal ion is very high (ii) multi-step reactions are possible, since the metal holds the reactants together. In the following one-step synthesis eleven molecules (three ethylenediamine — en , six formaldehyde, and two ammonia molecules) react with each other to form one single compound in a reported yield of 95%. It is ob vious that such a reaction is dictated by the organizing power of the metal ion (I.I. Creasei 1977),... 

Reactions with Ammonia and Amines. Acetaldehyde readily adds ammonia to form acetaldehyde—ammonia. Diethyl amine [109-87-7] is obtained when acetaldehyde is added to a saturated aqueous or alcohoHc solution of ammonia and the mixture is heated to 50—75°C in the presence of a nickel catalyst and hydrogen at 1.2 MPa (12 atm). Pyridine [110-86-1] and pyridine derivatives are made from paraldehyde and aqueous ammonia in the presence of a catalyst at elevated temperatures (62) acetaldehyde may also be used but the yields of pyridine are generally lower than when paraldehyde is the starting material. The vapor-phase reaction of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and ammonia at 360°C over oxide catalyst was studied a 49% yield of pyridine and picolines was obtained using an activated siHca—alumina catalyst (63). Brown polymers result when acetaldehyde reacts with ammonia or amines at a pH of 6—7 and temperature of 3—25°C (64). Primary amines and acetaldehyde condense to give Schiff bases CH2CH=NR. The Schiff base reverts to the starting materials in the presence of acids. 

Sulfomethylation. The reaction of formaldehyde and sodium bisulfite [7631-90-5] with polyacrylamide under alkaline conditions to produce sulfomethylated polyacrylamides has been known for many years (44—46). A more recent pubHcation (47) suggests, however, that the expected sulfomethyl substitution is not obtained under the previously described strongly alkaline conditions of pH 10—12. This C-nmr study indicates that hydrolysis of polyacrylamide occurs and the resulting ammonia reacts with the NaHSO and formaldehyde. A recent patent claims a new high pressure, high temperature process at slightly acid pH for preparation of sulfomethylated polyacrylamide (48). 

Reaction of formaldehyde, methanol, acetaldehyde, and ammonia over a siUca alumina catalyst at 500°C gives pyridine [110-86-1] and 3-picoline... 

Hexamethylenetetramine. Pure hexamethylenetetramine [100-97-0] (also called hexamine and HMTA) is a colorless, odorless, crystalline sohd of adamantane-like stmcture (141). It sublimes with decomposition at >200° C but does not melt. Its solubiUty in water varies Htde with temperature, and at 25°C it is 46.5% in the saturated solution. It is a weak monobase aqueous solutions are in the pH 8—8.5 range (142). Hexamethylenetetramine is readily prepared by treating aqueous formaldehyde with ammonia followed by evaporation and crystallisation of the soHd product. The reaction is fast and essentially quantitative (142). 

Methanol can be converted to a dye after oxidation to formaldehyde and subsequent reaction with chromatropic acid [148-25-4]. The dye formed can be deterruined photometrically. However, gc methods are more convenient. Ammonium formate [540-69-2] is converted thermally to formic acid and ammonia. The latter is trapped by formaldehyde, which makes it possible to titrate the residual acid by conventional methods. The water content can be determined by standard Kad Eischer titration. In order to determine iron, it has to be reduced to the iron(II) form and converted to its bipyridyl complex. This compound is red and can be determined photometrically. Contamination with iron and impurities with polymeric hydrocyanic acid are mainly responsible for the color number of the merchandized formamide (<20 APHA). Hydrocyanic acid is detected by converting it to a blue dye that is analyzed and deterruined photometrically. 

Ethynylation. Base-catalyzed addition of acetylene to carbonyl compounds to form -yn-ols and -yn-glycols (see Acetylene-DERIVED chemicals) is a general and versatile reaction for the production of many commercially useful products. Finely divided KOH can be used in organic solvents or Hquid ammonia. The latter system is widely used for the production of pharmaceuticals and perfumes. The primary commercial appHcation of ethynylation is in the production of 2-butyne-l,4-diol from acetylene and formaldehyde using supported copper acetyHde as catalyst in an aqueous Hquid-fiHed system. 

The resihency and dyeabihty of poly(vinyl alcohol) fibers is improved by a process incorporating -hydroxybenzaldehyde to provide a site for the formation of a stable Mannich base. Hydroxyl groups on the fiber are converted to acetal groups by -hydroxybenzaldehyde. Subsequent reaction with formaldehyde and ammonia or an alkylamine is rapid and forms a stable Mannich base that is attached to the polymer backbone (94). 

In the case of phenoHcs, it is possible to make linear thermoplastic polymers called novolaks, but this is done by reaction of less than one mole of formaldehyde with one mole of phenol the resulting resin has a large excess of free phenol. Usually in appHcation hexamethylene tetramine (HEXA) is added to the novolak. When heated, the HEXA breaks down into ammonia and formaldehyde and enters the reaction to form a light degree of cross-links in the final product. 

Temperatures in excess of 140°C are required to complete the reaction and pressurized equipment is used for alcohols boiling below this temperature provision must be made for venting ammonia without loss of alcohol. The reaction is straightforward and, ia the case of the monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol [109-86-4] can be carried out at atmospheric pressure usiag stoichiometric quantities of urea and alcohol (45). Methylolation with aqueous formaldehyde is carried out at 70—90°C under alkaline conditions. The excess formaldehyde needed for complete dimethylolation remains ia the resia and prevents more extensive usage because of formaldehyde odor problems ia the mill. 

In 1945, cationic urea resins were introduced and quickly supplanted the anionic resins, since they could be used with any type of pulp (62). Although they have now become commodities, their use in the industry has been steadily declining as the shift towards neutral and alkaline papermaking continues. They are commonly made by the reaction of urea and formaldehyde with one or more polyethylene—polyamines. The stmcture of these resins is very compHcated and has not been deterrnined. Ammonia is evolved during the reaction, probably according to the following ... 

The vapor-phase synthesis of pyridines and picolines from formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and ammonia falls in the category of four-bond formation reactions (Fig. 1). Reactions are performed in the vapor phase with proprietary catalysts. 

Fig. 1. Four-bond reactions formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and ammonia mainly give pyridine (1), and acetaldehyde and ammonia give a- (2) and y-picoline...

Nitrilotriacetonitrile [628-87-5], N(CH2CN)2, a precursor to nitrilotriacetic acid [139-13-9], N(CH2COOH)2, can be prepared from the reaction of formaldehyde cyanohydrin with ammonia (26). Formaldehyde cyanohydrin is also used as an intermediate in pharmaceutical production. Commercial formaldehyde cyanohydrin is available as a 70% aqueous solution stabiLhed by phosphoric acid. 

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