Formaldehyde with ammonia

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... 

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). 

Used for crosslinking novolacs or catalyzing resole syntheses, HMTA is prepared by reacting formaldehyde with ammonia (Fig. 7.5). The reaction is reversible at high temperatures, especially above 250°C. HMTA can also be hydrolyzed in the presence of water. 

The progress of the reaction was followed by monitoring the decrease in formaldehyde concentration with time. Previous studies used the hydroxylamine hydrochloride method of analysis (5 -55), but this was avoided in the current study as it requires tedious pH titrations. Instead, a colorimetric method was used that was first developed by Nash (55), involving formation of 3,5-diacetyl-1,4-dihydrolutidine, by reaction of formaldehyde with ammonia and acetyl acetone at neutral pH. The cyclic product absorbs at 412 nm with a molar extinction coefficient of 8,000 (55). Other colorimetric methods cannot be used as they all involve very strongly acidic or basic media (55), which would force the phenol-formaldehyde reaction to completion. 

A mixture of formaldehyde with ammonia or a primary or secondary amine can be used to replace mobile hydrogen by an aminomethyl or (substituted amino)methyl group. This reaction, which was systematically explored by Mannich,698 can be formulated as ... 

Novolacs are crosslinked by additions of more formaldehyde to the soluble, thermoplastic materials. The additional formaldehyde can be in the form of paraform, an oligomer of formaldehyde that decomposes to formaldehyde upon heating. It can also come from hexamethylenetetramine, a condensation product of formaldehyde with ammonia ... 

Novolacs are cured by reaction with a co-reactant to supply latent methylene links. Hexamethylene tetramine, the reaction product of formaldehyde with ammonia, (CH2)g. N4, at about 5-15 wt% is normally used. Curing occurs via a reaction at free... 

Addition products of aldehydes and ketones with ammonia and amines (hemiaminals) are unstable compounds that are then stabilised by a number of subsequent reactions (Figure 8.28). Dehydration of addition products yields imines. Other possible products are enamines, amines containing a double bond linkage -CH=CH—NH- (Figure 8.29), cycHc trimers (symmetrical 1,3,5-triazines) and various coloured polymers, generally of unknown structures. Reaction of the addition products with another amine molecule gives rise to aminals, reaction with another molecule of the carbonyl compounds yields a,a -dihydroxyamines. For example, in addition to 1,3,5-triazines, it is mostly polymers that are formed from aliphatic aldehydes and ammonia or amines. The reaction of formaldehyde with ammonia yields hexamethylenetetramine. 

Hexamethylenetetramine (E239), also known as urotropine, hexamine, methenamine or 1,3,5,7-tetraazaadamantane (8-57), arises as a reaction product of formaldehyde with ammonia. Its preservation effect appears to be due to the gradual liberation of formaldehyde (E240, which is not approved in the EU) and its oxidation product formic acid under acid conditions or in the presence of proteins. The most abundant end-product of formaldehyde in cheeses preserved with hexamethylenetetramine is spinacine, 4,5,5,7-tetrahydro-3//-imidazo[4,5-d]pyridine-6-carboxyhc acid (11-6), derived from the N-terminal histidine residue in y-casein. 

Mix 50 ml. of formalin, containing about 37 per cent, of formaldehyde, with 40 ml. of concentrated ammonia solution (sp. gr. 0- 88) in a 200 ml. round-bottomed flask. Insert a two-holed cork or rubber stopper carrying a capillary tube drawn out at the lower end (as for vacuum distillation) and reaching almost to the bottom of the flask, and also a short outlet tube connected through a filter flask to a water pump. Evaporate the contents of the flask as far as possible on a water bath under reduced pressure. Add a further 40 ml. of concentrated ammonia solution and repeat the evaporation. Attach a reflux condenser to the flask, add sufficient absolute ethyl alcohol (about 100 ml.) in small portions to dissolve most of the residue, heat under reflux for a few minutes and filter the hot alcoholic extract, preferably through a hot water fuimel (all flames in the vicinity must be extinguished). When cold, filter the hexamine, wash it with a little absolute alcohol, and dry in the air. The yield is 10 g. Treat the filtrate with an equal volume of dry ether and cool in ice. A fiulher 2 g. of hexamine is obtained. 

Unlike aliphatic aldehydes (with the exception of formaldehyde which 3delds hexamethylenetetramine. Section 111,67) benzaldehyde yields hydrobenzamide (and not an aldehyde ammonia) with ammonia ... 

Hexamine, more formally known as Hexamethylenetetramine, is easily and conveniently produced from Formaldehyde and Ammonia solutions. Formaldehyde may be easily produced by depolym-erizing, with heat, Paraformaldehyde (the only ingredient in OTC MildewCide). Hexamine is then reacted with Hydrochloric Acid and heated to yield Methylamine HCI in near quantitative yield. 

CAUTION - Formaldehyde and ammonia solutions are extremely poisonous and quite noxious. Perform this step in a well-ventilated area (outside or with direct exhaust of the fumes) ... 

Urea is also used as feed supplement for mminants, where it assists in the utilization of protein. Urea is one of the raw materials for urea—formaldehyde resins. Urea (with ammonia) pyrolyzes at high temperature and pressure to form melamine plastics (see also Cyanamides). Urea is used in the preparation of lysine, an amino acid widely used in poultry feed (see Amino acids Feeds and feed additives, petfoods). It also is used in some pesticides. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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 ... 

Ammonia is used in the fibers and plastic industry as the source of nitrogen for the production of caprolactam, the monomer for nylon 6. Oxidation of propylene with ammonia gives acrylonitrile (qv), used for the manufacture of acryHc fibers, resins, and elastomers. Hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA), produced from ammonia and formaldehyde, is used in the manufacture of phenoHc thermosetting resins (see Phenolic resins). Toluene 2,4-cHisocyanate (TDI), employed in the production of polyurethane foam, indirectly consumes ammonia because nitric acid is a raw material in the TDI manufacturing process (see Amines Isocyanates). Urea, which is produced from ammonia, is used in the manufacture of urea—formaldehyde synthetic resins (see Amino resins). Melamine is produced by polymerization of dicyanodiamine and high pressure, high temperature pyrolysis of urea, both in the presence of ammonia (see Cyanamides). 

Commercial Manufacture of Pyridine. There are two vapor-phase processes used in the industry for the synthesis of pyridines. The first process (eq. 21) uti1i2es formaldehyde and acetaldehyde as a co-feed with ammonia, and the principal products are pyridine (1) and 3-picoline (3). The second process produces only alkylated pyridines as products. 

Replacing acetaldehyde with acetone and using a co-feed of formaldehyde and ammonia give mainly 2,6-lutidine (5). However, leaving out the formaldehyde results in production of 2,4,6-coUidine (8) as the primary product. 

The yield of the more active RRR-a-tocopherol can be improved by selective methylation of the other tocopherol isomers or by hydrogenation of a-tocotrienol (25,26). Methylation can be accompHshed by several processes, such as simultaneous halo alkylation and reduction with an aldehyde and a hydrogen haUde in the presence of staimous chloride (27), amino alkylation with ammonia or amines and an aldehyde such as paraformaldehyde followed by catalytic reduction (28), or via formylation with formaldehyde followed by catalytic reduction (29). 

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. 

A number of disinfectants apparentiy owe their activity to formaldehyde, although there is argument on whether some of them function by other mechanisms. In this category, the dmg with the longest history is hexamethylenetetramine (hexamine, urotropin) [100-97-0] which is a condensation product of formaldehyde and ammonia that breaks down by acid hydrolysis to produce formaldehyde. Hexamine was first used for urinary tract antisepsis. Other antimicrobials that are adducts of formaldehyde and amines have been made others are based on methylolate derivations of nitroalkanes. The apphcations of these compounds are widespread, including inactivation of bacterial endotoxin preservation of cosmetics, metal working fluids, and latex paint and use in spin finishes, textile impregnation, and secondary oil recovery (117). 

A radical reaction is sometimes observed to compete with the particularly slow acid hydrolyses of diaziridines derived from formaldehyde. With other diaziridines the radical reaction can be made to predominate by using HCl in carbon tetrachloride solution. Acetaldehyde, butyraldehyde, butylamine and ammonia are obtained from (160) (64CB49). 

Two substituents on two N atoms increase the number of diaziridine structures as compared with oxaziridines, while some limitations as to the nature of substituents on N and C decrease it. Favored starting materials are formaldehyde, aliphatic aldehydes and ketones, together with ammonia and simple aliphatic amines. Aromatic amines do not react. Suitable aminating agents are chloramine, N-chloroalkylamines, hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid and their simple alkyl derivatives, but also oxaziridines unsubstituted at nitrogen. Combination of a carbonyl compound, an amine and an aminating agent leads to the standard procedures of diaziridine synthesis. 

Turn off the source of the leak and limit the spread of fluid by means of mop, dusters, rags, sand or diversion Absorb spillage and shovel into buckets, and remove to a safe place, dilute greatly with running water and/or dilute with dispersing agent and water (as with ammonia solution, ethanol, methanol and formaldehyde solution)... 

The carbon dioxide removed in synthesis gas preparation can be reacted with ammonia, to lonn urea CO(NH2)2- This is an excellent fertilizer, highly concentrated in nitrogen (46.6%) and also useful as an additive in animal feed to provide the nitrogen for formation of meat protein. Urea is also an important source of resins and plastics by reacting it with formaldehyde from methanol. 

It has been found that the simplest method of preparing 5-nitro-tetrahydro-l,3-oxazine derivatives consists in warming 2-alkyl-2-nitropropane-l,3-diol with formaldehyde and ammonia or primary amines ... 

With an unsymmetrical ketone as CH-acidic substrate, two regioisomeric products can be formed. A regioselective reaction may in such cases be achieved by employing a preformed iminium salt instead of formaldehyde and ammonia. An iminium salt reagent—the Eschenmoser salt—has also found application in Mannich reactions. ... 

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