Formaldehyde hydrolysis

Figure 5. Same as figure 1 except for formaldehyde hydrolysis by a single water molecule (see diagram i).

Figure 6. Potential energy along the minimiun energy path and relative groimd-state adiabatic potential curves as a function of reaction coordinate for formaldehyde hydrolysis, by one water, using BAC-MP4 calculations.

Figure 8. Comparison of potential energy along the minimum energy path and relative ground-state adiabatic potential as a function of reaction coordinate for formaldehyde hydrolysis by one water molecule (dashed curves) and two water molecules (solid curves), by BAC-MP4 calculations. For each set, the top curve is the the adiabatic potential to lower curve is the potential energy.

Figure 10. Same as figure 9 except for formaldehyde hydrolysis by one water molecule (lower set of curves) and by two water molecules (upper set of curves ...

The compound (III) can however lose ethanol by an internal Claisen ester condensation (p. 264) to give the cyclohexane derivative (IV), which, being the ester of a (3-keto acid, in turn readily undergoes hydrolysis and decarboxylation to give 5,5Hiimethyl cyclohexan-i,3Hiione (V) or Dimedone, a valuable reagent for the detection and estimation of formaldehyde. 

Hydrolysis. Warm 0 5 g. with a few ml. of dil. HCl. The pungent odour of formaldehyde, produced by the hydrolysis of the tetramine, is readily detected ... 

Another method for the hydroxylation of the etliylenic linkage consists in treatment of the alkene with osmium tetroxide in an inert solvent (ether or dioxan) at room temperature for several days an osmic ester is formed which either precipitates from the reaction mixture or may be isolated by evaporation of the solvent. Hydrolysis of the osmic ester in a reducing medium (in the presence of alkaline formaldehyde or of aqueous-alcoholic sodium sulphite) gives the 1 2-glycol and osmium. The glycol has the cis structure it is probably derived from the cyclic osmic ester ... 

In the above reaction one molecular proportion of sodium ethoxide is employed this is Michael s original method for conducting the reaction, which is reversible and particularly so under these conditions, and in certain circumstances may lead to apparently abnormal results. With smaller amounts of sodium alkoxide (1/5 mol or so the so-called catal3rtic method) or in the presence of secondary amines, the equilibrium is usually more on the side of the adduct, and good yields of adducts are frequently obtained. An example of the Michael addition of the latter type is to be found in the formation of ethyl propane-1 1 3 3 tetracarboxylate (II) from formaldehyde and ethyl malonate in the presence of diethylamine. Ethyl methylene-malonate (I) is formed intermediately by the simple Knoevenagel reaction and this Is followed by the Michael addition. Acid hydrolysis of (II) gives glutaric acid (III). 

Indole (I) condenses with formaldehyde and dimethylamine in the presence of acetie acid (Mannich reaction see Section VI,20) largely in the 3-position to give 3 dimethylaminomethylindole or gramine (II). The latter reaets in hot aqueous ethanol with sodium cyanide to give the nitrile (III) upon boiling the reaction mixture, the nitrile undergoes hydrolysis to yield 3-indoleaeet-amide (IV), part of which is further hydrolysed to 3-indoleacetic acid (V, as sodium salt). The product is a readily separable mixture of 20 per cent, of (IV) and 80 per cent, of (V). 

Under acidic conditions, furfuryl alcohol polymerizes to black polymers, which eventually become crosslinked and insoluble in the reaction medium. The reaction can be very violent and extreme care must be taken when furfuryl alcohol is mixed with any strong Lewis acid or Brn nstad acid. Copolymer resins are formed with phenoHc compounds, formaldehyde and/or other aldehydes. In dilute aqueous acid, the predominant reaction is a ring opening hydrolysis to form levulinic acid [123-76-2] (52). In acidic alcohoHc media, levulinic esters are formed. The mechanism for this unusual reaction in which the hydroxymethyl group of furfuryl alcohol is converted to the terminal methyl group of levulinic acid has recendy been elucidated (53). 

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). 

Fig. 2. Functional groups on modified polyacrylamides (a) formed by reaction with dimethylamine and formaldehyde (Mannich reaction) (b), quatemized Mannich amine (c), carboxylate formed by acid or base-cataly2ed hydrolysis or copolymerization with sodium acrylate and (d), hydroxamate formed by...

Other methods of production iaclude hydrolysis of glycolonittile [107-16 ] with an acid (eg, H PO or H2SO2) having a piC of about 1.5—2.5 at temperatures between 100—150°C glycolonittile produced by reaction of formaldehyde with hydrogen cyanide recovery from sugar juices and hydrolysis of monohalogenated acetic acid. None of these has been commercially and economically attractive. 

Biacetyl is produced by the dehydrogenation of 2,3-butanediol with a copper catalyst (290,291). Prior to the availabiUty of 2,3-butanediol, biacetyl was prepared by the nitrosation of methyl ethyl ketone and the hydrolysis of the resultant oxime. Other commercial routes include passing vinylacetylene into a solution of mercuric sulfate in sulfuric acid and decomposing the insoluble product with dilute hydrochloric acid (292), by the reaction of acetal with formaldehyde (293), by the acid-cataly2ed condensation of 1-hydroxyacetone with formaldehyde (294), and by fermentation of lactic acid bacterium (295—297). Acetoin [513-86-0] (3-hydroxy-2-butanone) is also coproduced in lactic acid fermentation. 

Hexamethylenetetramine. Hexa, a complex molecule with an adamantane-type stmcture, is prepared from formaldehyde and ammonia, and can be considered a latent source of formaldehyde. When used either as a catalyst or a curative, hexa contributes formaldehyde-residue-type units as well as benzylamines. Hexa [100-97-0] is an infusible powder that decomposes and sublimes above 275°C. It is highly soluble in water, up to ca 45 wt % with a small negative temperature solubiUty coefficient. The aqueous solutions are mildly alkaline at pH 8—8.5 and reasonably stable to reverse hydrolysis. 

The recovery of fiber from broke (off-specification paper or trim produced in the paper mill) is compHcated by high levels of urea—formaldehyde and melamine—formaldehyde wet-strength resin. The urea resins present a lesser problem than the melamine resins because they cure slower and are not as resistant to hydrolysis. Broke from either resin treatment may be reclaimed by hot acidic repulping. Even the melamine resin is hydrolyzed rapidly under acidic conditions at high temperature. The cellulose is far more resistant and is not harmed if the acid is neutralized as soon as repulping is complete. 

In the determination of free formaldehyde in solution, eg, commercial reagents and pad bath formulation, the conditions of analysis allow hydrolysis of the /V-methy1o1 groups, usually between <1% and several percent. The NaOH formed is titrated with hydrochloric acid (82). Because of an incomplete reaction of sulfite with free formaldehyde, these low temperature methods (83) detect only 80—90% of the free formaldehyde present. Skill is important for correct results. 

Dihydroxyethyleneurea (DHEU) (6) is also a cross-linker, but is extremely vulnerable to hydrolysis in an alkaline home laundering. Another approach toward formaldehyde-free agents has been the use of glyoxal in the bridging group between cycHc DHEU and related ring systems (108). 

Racemic pantolactone is prepared easily by reacting isobutyraldehyde (15) with formaldehyde ia the presence of a base to yield the iatermediate hydroxyaldehyde (16). Hydrogen cyanide addition affords the hydroxy cyanohydria (17). Acid-cataly2ed hydrolysis and cyclization of the cyanohydria (17) gives (R,3)-pantolactone (18) ia 90% yield (18). 

Ortho- and/ i ra-phenylphenols are commercially significant biphenyl derivatives that do not involve biphenyl as a starting material. Both are produced as by-products from the hydrolysis of chlorobenzene [108-90-7] with aqueous sodium hydroxide (68). o-Phenylphenol, ie, l,l-biphenyl-2-ol [90-43-7], particularly as its sodium salt, is widely used as a germicide or fungicide. Pi ra-phenylphenol [92-69-3] with formaldehyde forms a resin used in surface coatings. 

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