Isocyanate dimerization trimerization

Oligomerization and Polymerization Reactions. One special feature of isocyanates is their propensity to dimerize and trimerize. Aromatic isocyanates, especially, are known to undergo these reactions in the absence of a catalyst. The dimerization product bears a strong dependency on both the reactivity and stmcture of the starting isocyanate. For example, aryl isocyanates dimerize, in the presence of phosphoms-based catalysts, by a crosswise addition to the C=N bond of the NCO group to yield a symmetrical dimer (15). 

Reportedly, simple alkyl isocyanates do not dimerize upon standing. They trimerize to isocyanurates under comparable reaction conditions (57). Aliphatic isocyanate dimers can, however, be synthesized via the phosgenation of A[,A[-disubstituted ureas to yield /V-(ch1orocarhony1)ch1oroformamidine iatermediates which are subsequendy converted by partial hydrolysis and base catalyzed cycUzation. This is also the method of choice for the synthesis of l-alkyl-3-aryl-l,3-diazetidiones (mixed dimers of aromatic and aUphatic isocyanates) (58). 

In addition, isocyanates may, under appropriate conditions, react with themselves to give dimers, trimers (isocyanurates) and carbodi-imides. 

Methyl isocyanate and all isocyanic acid esters are an interesting and highly reactive class of organic compounds, since the isocyanate group (-NC0) reacts readily with a wide variety of compounds as well as with itself to form dimers, trimers, ureas, and carbodi-imides. Methyl isocyanate (MIC) is an intermediate in the preparation of carbamate pesticides and conceivably could be applied to the production of special heterocyclic polymers and derivatives. 

A special technique of trimerization has been described by Kogon 24, 25). Phenyl isocyanate reacts with ethyl alcohol to form a urethane (ethyl carbanilate). At 125° a substantial yield of ethyl a,7-diphenyl allophanate is observed as well as a small amount of phenyl isocyanate dimer. However, when A-methyhnorpholine (NMM) is added as a catalyst, the reaction is altered and the product is triphenylisocyanurate (isocyanate trimer) in high yield. The reaction sequence is believed to be ... 

The reactions of Af-silyl-substituted ketimine derivatives with phosgene result in the formation of acyl isocyanates, which trimerize or dimerize under the reaction conditions [1854] ... 

Isocyanates can also react with other isocyanate molecules to form oligomers (Fig. 4). This polymerization is more likely to occur in the presence of basic catalysts.Isocyanate dimers, also called uretidine-diones, can only be formed by aromatic isocyanates, and uretidinedione formation is inhibited by ortho substituents. Hence, only 4,4-diphenylmethanediiso-cyanate (MDI) dimerizes at room temperature, and its rate of formation is quite low. At higher temperatures, MDI would form an insoluble polymeric mate-rial. Trimers of isocyanates are also possible these structures are called isocyanurates. Isocyanurates are formed by both aliphatic and aromatic isocyanates, and the resulting structure is highly stable to a temperature of approximately Isocyanurates give... 

Isocyanate Dimers and Trimers, Aromatic isocyanates have a tendency to dimerize readily... 

Most unsaturated substances such as alkenes, alkynes, aldehydes, acrylonitrile, epoxides, isocyanates, etc., can be converted into polymeric materials of some sort—either very high polymers, or low-molecular-weight polymers, or oligomers such as linear or cyclic dimers, trimers, etc. In addition, copolymerization of several components, e.g., styrene-butadiene-dicyclo-pentadiene, is very important in the synthesis of rubbers. Not all such polymerizations, of course, require transition-metal catalysts and we consider here only a few examples that do. The most important is Ziegler-Natta polymerization of ethylene and propene. 

As distinct from MDI, the monomers of HDI and the TDI isomers, as well as MIC, are volatile, but may still be present in workroom air as nonvolatile dimers, trimers or prepolymersPrepolymers of the volatile diisocyanates, such as biuret, allofanat, and isocyanurate adducts, exhibit substantially lower vapor pressures than the diisocyanates, reducing the gaseous phase exposure levels. Highly reactive isocyanates in workroom air may exist as vapors, aerosols, or in mixed phases, rendering sampling of isocyanates in workroom air a complicated task. 

Derivatives of Thioamides. (i) Syntheses,reactions, and physical properties of thiohydrazides. (ii) Syntheses and reactions of thio-hydroxamic acids. (iii) Syntheses, dimerization, trimerization, and reactions of thioacyl isocyanates. ... 

Trimeric isocyanates also contain the CO—N—CO system. AUcyl derivatives show their main band around 1700—1680 cm" with a weaker shoulder at 1715—1710 cm". Aromatics have a higher frequency with the main band near 1715 cm" and the weaker shoulder near 1780 cm" This is parallel to the raised carbonyl frequencies of anilides as compared with alkyl amides. Isocyanate dimers are of some theoretical interest in that the carbonyl groups are in direct opposition so the symmetric mode is forbidden in the infra-red. Only a single carbonyl band is therefore seen, and this is near 1780 cm"... 

Isocyanates dimerize to carbodiimides, which react with the alcohol groups to give relatively stable cross-linked substituted ureas. Trimerization of isocyanates may also occur under certain conditions to yield thermally stable isocyanurate rings. 

Isocyanates undergo dimerization reactions by a [2+2] cycloaddition across their C=N bonds to give diazetidinediones 3. The isomeric unsymmetrical dimers have never been isolated but they are postulated to be intermediates in the formation of carbodiimides from isocyanates. The isocyanate dimers usually dissociate back to the monomers on heating. Therefore, they are considered to be masked isocyanates. The dimerization of isocyanates requires the use of a base or a Lewis acid as a catalyst, and often isocyanate trimers are formed as coproducts. 

Aliphatic isocyanate dimers are not common, and usually low yields are obtained in their dimerization reactions. An exception is the use of 1,2-dimethylimidazol as a catalyst for the dimerization of benzyl isocyanates, which provides the cyclodimers in good yields (see Table 3.1). In the benzyl isocyanate dimerization benzyl isocyanate trimers are also formed as coproducts, and when the reaction is conducted for more than 16 h at room temperature the dimers are slowly converted to trimers. The structure of the catalyst is of importance, as shown in Table 3.1. A slight change in the substituents of the heterocyclic carbene catalyst affords either a 64 % yield of cyclohexyl isocyanate dimer or a 100 % yield... 

Since some catalysts initiate dimerization and trimerization under specific conditions, equilibria between monomeric isocyanates/catalyst, dimer/catalyst and trimer/catalyst exist. For example, interrupting the trimerization of phenyl isocyanate with a penta-substituted guanidine catalyst after short periods of time leads to the formation of the phenyl isocyanate dimer. ... 

Dimerization is reportedly catalyzed by pyridine [110-86-1] and phosphines. Trialkylphosphines have been shown to catalyze the conversion of dimer iato trimer upon prolonged standing (2,57). Pyridines and other basic catalysts are less selective because the required iacrease ia temperature causes trimerization to compete with dimerization. The gradual conversion of dimer to trimer ia the catalyzed dimerization reaction can be explained by the assumption of equiUbria between dimer and polar catalyst—dimer iatermediates. The polar iatermediates react with excess isocyanate to yield trimer. Factors, such as charge stabilization ia the polar iatermediate and its lifetime or steric requirement, are reported to be important. For these reasons, it is not currently feasible to predict the efficiency of dimer formation given a particular catalyst. 

Commercially, polymeric MDI is trimerized duting the manufacture of rigid foam to provide improved thermal stabiUty and flammabiUty performance. Numerous catalysts are known to promote the reaction. Tertiary amines and alkaU salts of carboxyUc acids are among the most effective. The common step ia all catalyzed trimerizations is the activatioa of the C=N double boad of the isocyanate group. The example (18) highlights the alkoxide assisted formation of the cycHc dimer and the importance of the subsequent iatermediates. Similar oligomerization steps have beea described previously for other catalysts (61). 

N-Substituted amides can be prepared by direct attack of isocyanates on aromatic rings.The R group may be alkyl or aryl, but if the latter, dimers and trimers are also obtained. Isothiocyanates similarly give thioamides. The reaction has been carried out intramolecularly both with aralkyl isothiocyanates and acyl isothiocyanates.In the latter case, the product is easily hydrolyzable to a dicarboxylic acid this is a way of putting a carboxyl group on a ring ortho to one already there (34 is... 

More recently, Belzner et al. reported a new type of oxygen transfer reaction from isocyanates to bis[2-(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl]silylene (8)18 which was thermally generated from the corresponding cyclotrisilane 7, and they obtained some convincing results of the involvement of silanone 9 (Scheme 3). However, they found that silanone 9 is not stable enough to be isolated. Only cyclic di- and trisiloxanes 10 and 11 (i.e., the cyclic dimer and trimer of the silanone 9) were obtained together with the corresponding isonitrile as other main products when... 

Isocyanates are capable of co-reacting to form dimers, oligomers and polymers. For example, aromatic isocyanates will readily dimerize when heated, although the presence of a substituent ortho to the -NCO group reduces this tendency. For example, toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is less susceptible to dimer formation than diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI). The dimerization reaction is reversible, with dissociation being complete above 200 °C. It is unusual for aliphatic isocyanates to form dimers, but they will readily form trimers, as do aromatic isocyanates. The polymerization of aromatic isocyanates is known, but requires the use of metallic sodium in DMF. 

The dimerization and trimerization of isocyanates are special cases of the cycloaddition reaction in that they involve reagents of the same type. The uncatalyzed carbodiimidization of isocyanates likely involves a labile 2 + 2 cydoadduct (12) which liberates carbon dioxide. 

When a toluene solution of a mixture of cyclotrisilane 34 and cyclohexyl isocyanate (or f-butyl isocyante) was heated at 70 °C, cyclic di- and trisiloxanes 37 and 38, i.e. the cyclic dimer and trimer of the silanone 36, were obtained together with the corresponding isonitrile RN=C. The formation of 37 as well as 38 was completely suppressed in the presence of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (19 D3) instead, quantitative conversion of 35 into 39, the formal insertion product of the silanone 36 into the Si—O bond of D3, occurred (Scheme 14). Since neither cyclodisiloxane 37 nor cyclotrisiloxane 38 reacted with D3 under the reaction conditions, the possibility that 37 or 38 is the precursor of 39 was ruled out. Whereas the oxidation of 35 with cyclohexyl and t-butyl isocyanates proceeded with exclusive formation of 37 and 38 (as the silicon-containing compounds) the reaction of 35 with phenyl isocyanate resulted in the formation of 37 in low yield. Furthermore, in this case the presence of D3 did not totally suppress the formation of 37. According to the authors, these results indicate that the oxidation of 35 with cyclohexyl and f-butyl isocyanates appears to use other reaction channels than that with phenyl isocyanate. 

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