Hexamethylenetetramine

Although several workers have studied the reaction of hexamethylenetetramine (hmt l,3,5,7-tetraazatricyclo[3.3.1.13.7]decane) with phosgene, the product has never been fully characterized, despite its alleged importance as a prophylactic agent in phosgene poisoning (Section 2.6). 

When hmt reacts with COClj in inert organic solvents, irrespective of the temperature and reactant proportions, it forms a white, crystalline, high-melting compound with a formula 

Hexamethylenetetramine has been employed in gas masks as a means of absorbing phosgene [1670]. Its dispersion in aluminium(III) hydroxide gel is also reported to be effective for the absorption of phosgene gas [1592]. 

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Upon heating the polymers, anhydrous gaseous formaldehyde is produced (compare Section 111,17). By allowing a mixture of concentrated ammonia solution and formalin to evaporate, hexamethylenetetramine (also called hexamine, vrotropine) CjHjjNj is formed ... 

Hexamethylenetetramine sublimes at about 260° and is very soluble in water. 

From ehloromethyl or bromomethyl aromatic compounds by heating with hexamethylenetetramine (hexamine) in aqueous alcohol or aqueous acetic acid. A quaternary ammonium compound is formed, which yields the aldehyde upon treatment with water in the presence of hexamine for example... 

In a 500 ml. flask, fitted with a reflux condenser, place 53 g. of 1-chloro-methylnaphthalene (Section IV.23), 84 g, of hexamethylenetetramine and 250 ml. of 1 1 acetic acid [CAUTION 1-Chloromethylnaphtha-lene and, to a lesser degree, a-naphthaldehyde have lachrymatory and vesicant properties adequate precautions should therefore be taken to avoid contact with these substances.] Heat the mixture under reflux for 2 hours it becomes homogeneous after about 15 minutes and then an oil commences to separate. Add 100 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid and reflux for a further 15 minutes this will hydrolyse any SchifiF s bases which may be formed from amine and aldehyde present and will also convert any amines into the ether-insoluble hydrochlorides. Cool, and extract the mixture with 150 ml. of ether. Wash the ether layer with three 50 ml. portions of water, then cautiously with 50 ml. of 10 per cent, sodium carbonate solution, followed by 50 ml. of water. Dry the ethereal solution with anhydrous magnesium sulphate, remove the ether by distillation on a steam bath, and distil the residue under reduced pressure. Collect the a-naphthaldehyde at 160-162718 mm. the yield is 38 g. 

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

The benzylchloride compound made in the previous recipe can be converted to piperonal or benzaldehyde using a chemical called hexamine [137 p817, 37 p700, 136]. Hexamine, also known as methenamine or hexamethylenetetramine, is a weird looking chemical that is easily made from formaldehyde but is better off being purchased. 

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. 

Synthesis, March 1979, Blazevic, "Hexamethylenetetramine, Versatile Reagent in Organic Synthesis", pp161-176 ... 

Two-Stage Resins. The ratio of formaldehyde to phenol is low enough to prevent the thermosetting reaction from occurring during manufacture of the resin. At this point the resin is termed novolac resin. Subsequently, hexamethylenetetramine is incorporated into the material to act as a source of chemical cross-links during the molding operation (and conversion to the thermoset or cured state). 

An alloy of chromel containing Ni, Fe, and Cr was analyzed by a complexation titration using EDTA as the titrant. A 0.7176-g sample of the alloy was dissolved in ITNOa and diluted to 250 mb in a volumetric flask. A 50.00-mb aliquot of the sample, treated with pyrophosphate to mask the Fe and Cr, required 26.14 mb of 0.05831 M EDTA to reach the murexide end point. A second 50.00-mb aliquot was treated with hexamethylenetetramine to mask the Cr. Titrating with 0.05831 M EDTA required 35.43 mb to reach the murexide end point. Einally, a third 50.00-mb aliquot was treated with 50.00 mb of 0.05831 M EDTA, and back titrated to the murexide end point with 6.21 mb of 0.06316 M Cu +. Report the weight percents of Ni, fe, and Cr in the alloy. 

Acid—Base Chemistry. Acetic acid dissociates in water, pK = 4.76 at 25°C. It is a mild acid which can be used for analysis of bases too weak to detect in water (26). It readily neutralizes the ordinary hydroxides of the alkaU metals and the alkaline earths to form the corresponding acetates. When the cmde material pyroligneous acid is neutralized with limestone or magnesia the commercial acetate of lime or acetate of magnesia is obtained (7). Acetic acid accepts protons only from the strongest acids such as nitric acid and sulfuric acid. Other acids exhibit very powerful, superacid properties in acetic acid solutions and are thus useful catalysts for esterifications of olefins and alcohols (27). Nitrations conducted in acetic acid solvent are effected because of the formation of the nitronium ion, NO Hexamethylenetetramine [100-97-0] may be nitrated in acetic acid solvent to yield the explosive cycl o trim ethyl en etrin itram in e [121 -82-4] also known as cyclonit or RDX. 

Ma.nufa.cture. The two most common processes for making RDX and HMX use hexamethylenetetramine (hexamine) as starting material. The Woolwich or direct nitrolysis process used ia the United Kingdom proceeds according to ... 

Most phenohc foams are produced from resoles and acid catalyst suitable water-soluble acid catalysts are mineral acids (such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid) and aromatic sulfonic acids (63). Phenohc foams can be produced from novolacs but with more difficulty than from resoles (59). Novolacs are thermoplastic and require a source of methylene group to permit cure. This is usually suppHed by hexamethylenetetramine (64). 

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). 

The production of hexamethylenetetramine consumes about 6% of the U.S. formaldehyde supply (115). Its principal use is as a thermosetting catalyst for phenoHc resins. Other significant uses are for the manufacture of RDX (cyclonite) high explosives, in mol ding compounds, and for mbber vulcanisation accelerators. Some hexamethylenetetramine is made as an unisolated intermediate in the manufacture of nitfilotriacetic acid. 

Whereas the above reactions are appHcable to activated aromatics, deactivated aromatics can be formylated by reaction with hexamethylenetetramine in strong acids such as 75% polyphosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid, or trifluoroacetic acid to give saUcylaldehyde derivatives (117). Formyl fluoride (HCOF) has also been used as formyl a ting agent in the Friedel-Crafts reaction of aromatics (118). Formyl fluoride [1493-02-3] in the presence of BF was found to be an efficient electrophilic formyl a ting agent, giving 53% para-, 43% ortho- and 3.5% meta-tolualdehydes upon formylation of toluene (110). 

Acetic anhydride and acetic acid increase the solubiUty of the two phases in each other, and they are employed for the commercial N-nitration of hexamethylenetetramine [100-97-0] (11) to form cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine [121-82-4] (RDX), (CH2)3(NN02)3. Renewed consideration has been given to replacing H2SO4 with an improved soHd catalyst to reduce the environmental problems of disposal or reconcentration of the waste acid and to increase production of desired nitrated isomers. For example, a catalyst with suitable pore size might increase the production of 4-MNT and reduce that of 3-MNT when toluene is nitrated. 

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. 

Uncured resins are skin sensitizers and contact should be avoided, as weU as breathing the vapor, mist, or dust. Novolak-based pulverized products generally contain hexamethylenetetramine, which may cause rashes and dermatitis. PhenoHc molding compounds and pulverized phenoHc adhesives must be controUed as potentially explosive dusts. In addition, they contain irritating or toxic additives. 

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). 

Methylene chloride is easily reduced to methyl chloride and methane by alkaU metal ammonium compounds in Hquid ammonia. When the vapor is contacted with reduced nickel at 200°C in the presence of excess hydrogen, hydrogen chloride and elementary carbon are produced. Heating with alcohoHc ammonia at 100—125°C results in hexamethylenetetramine, (CH2) N4, a heterocycHc compound with aqueous ammonia at 200°C, hydrogen chloride, formic acid, and methylamine are produced. 

Although in the dry state carbon tetrachloride may be stored indefinitely in contact with some metal surfaces, its decomposition upon contact with water or on heating in air makes it desirable, if not always necessary, to add a smaH quantity of stabHizer to the commercial product. A number of compounds have been claimed to be effective stabHizers for carbon tetrachloride, eg, alkyl cyanamides such as diethyl cyanamide (39), 0.34—1% diphenylamine (40), ethyl acetate to protect copper (41), up to 1% ethyl cyanide (42), fatty acid derivatives to protect aluminum (43), hexamethylenetetramine (44), resins and amines (45), thiocarbamide (46), and a ureide, ie, guanidine (47). 

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). 

Hexamethyleneimine, N-nitroso-synthesis, 7, 518 Hexamethylenetetramine applications, 3, 529 degradative nitrosation, 3, 488 food preservative, 1, 411 quatemization, 3, 488 reactivity, 3, 487 88 structure, 2, 6 synthesis, 3, 509... 

Hexamine — see Hexamethylenetetramine 1,4,7,10,13,16-Hexaoxacyclooctadecane — see [18]Crown-6 Hexazinone as herbicide, 1, 187 Hex-2-enopyranoside, 2,3-dideoxy-synthesis, 1, 464 Hexobarbital, 3, 150 Hexogen, 3, 530 a-D-galacto- Hexopyranose nomenclature, 1, 31 Qf-D-ido-Hexopyranose nomenclature, 1, 31... 

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