Isocyanurate reaction

The isocyanurate reaction occurs when three equivalents of isocyanate react to form a six-membered ring, as shown in the fifth item of Fig. 1. Isocyanurate linkages are usually more stable than urethane linkages. Model compound studies show no degradation of the trimer of phenyl isocyanate below 270°C [10,11]. Catalysts are usually needed to form the isocyanurate bond. Alkali metals of carboxylic acids, such as potassium acetate, various quaternary ammonium salts, and even potassium or sodium hydroxide, are most commonly used as catalysts for the isocyanurate reaction. However, many others will work as well [12]. 

The isocyanurate reaction can be both beneficial and troublesome. It can be the bane of production engineers. Low levels of alkaline impurities present in urethane raw materials such as polyols, tackifiers, etc., can cause problems in prepolymer production, resulting in high viscosity products at levels of 5 ppm or less. At higher levels of alkaline impurities, more serious problems can occur, including poor shelf life, poor caulkability, or poor sag resistance. At levels of 15 ppm or higher, the alkalinity can cause an isocyanurate reaction in a prepolymer that can result in a gelled reactor. 

We have confirmed that the cause of crosslinking and branching, in the synthesis of linear polyoxazolidones by an epoxide/isocyanate reaction, is the trimerisation of the isocyanate to form isocyanurate (Reaction 5). Alternative synthetic routes to polyoxazolidones, avoiding the use of diisocyanates and so overcoming the problem of crosslinking during their formation have been reported and include the reaction of equimolar mixtures of diamin-imides and diepoxides and the reaction between diepoxides and diurethanes... 

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). 

An excess of phosgene is used during the initial reaction of amine and phosgene to retard the formation of substituted ureas. Ureas are undesirable because they serve as a source for secondary product formation which adversely affects isocyanate stabiUty and performance. By-products, such as biurets (23) and triurets (24), are formed via the reaction of the labile hydrogens of the urea with excess isocyanate. Isocyanurates (25, R = phenyl, toluyl) may subsequendy be formed from the urea oligomers via ring closure. 

Also, the presence of strong bases, even in trace amounts, can promote the formation of isocyanurates or carbodiimides. In the event of gross contamination, the exothermic reaction can sharply increase the temperature of the material. Normally, the trimerization reaction occurs first and furnishes heat for the carbodiimide reaction. The carbodiimide reaction Hberates carbon dioxide and forms a hard soHd. The Hberation of carbon dioxide in a sealed vessel could result in overpressurization and mpture. 

Transesterification reactions between the methyl propionate and various alcohols produce another family of stabili2ers. Stearyl alcohol yields octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-/ f2 -butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate (27) (16), pentaerythritol gives the tetrakis ester (28) (17), and trishy dr oxyethyl isocyanurate gives (29) (18). 

Another use is of minor proportions of polyfunctional aHyl esters, eg, diaHyl maleate, ttiaHyl cyanurate, and ttiaHyl isocyanurate, for cross-linking or curing preformed vinyl-type polymers such as polyethylene and vinyl chlotide copolymers. These reactions ate examples of graft copolymerization in which specific added peroxides or high energy radiation achieve optimum cross-linking (see Copolymers). 

The formation of isocyanurates in the presence of polyols occurs via intermediate aHophanate formation, ie, the urethane group acts as a cocatalyst in the trimerization reaction. By combining cyclotrimerization with polyurethane formation, processibiUty is improved, and the friabiUty of the derived... 

At 25°C, pH 7.5, 1.5 ppm FAC, and 25 ppm cyanuric acid, the calculated HOCl concentration is only 0.01 ppm. Although the monochloroisocyanurate ion hydrolyzes to only a small extent, it serves as a reservoir of HOCl because of rapid hydrolysis. Indeed, this reaction is so fast that HClCy behaves like FAC in all wet methods of analysis. Furthermore, since HClCy absorbs uv only below 250 nm, which is filtered out of solar radiation by the earth s atmosphere, it is more resistant to decomposition than the photoactive C10 , which absorbs sunlight at 250—350 nm and represents the principal mode of chlorine loss in unstabilized pools (30). As Httie as 5 ppm of bromide ion prevents stabilization of FAC by cyanuric acid (23) (see also Cyanuric and ISOCYANURIC acids). 

Dichlorine monoxide, generated in situ in the presence of CCl by reaction of CO2 and NaOCl, has been used in preparation of substituted hydra2ines (48). Dichlorine monoxide reacts with finely divided cyanuric acid in a fluidized bed forming dichloro- and trichloroisocyanuric acids (49) and with sodium cyanurate monohydrate yielding sodium dichloroisocyanurate monohydrate (50) (see Cyanuric and isocyanuric acids). 

Stable A/-chloro compounds are formed by reaction of hypochlorous acid and appropriate N—H compounds. For example, HOCl, formed in situ via chlorine hydrolysis, converts di- or trisodium cyanurates to dichloro- and trichloroiso-cyanuric acids, respectively (114). Chloroisocyanurates can also be prepared from isocyanuric acid or monosodium cyanurate and preformed HOCl (115—117). Hydrolysis of chloroisocyanurates provide HOCl for use in swimming pool disinfection and in bleaching appHcations. 

The chemistry of melamine has been reviewed (63,64). Melamine, although moderately basic, is better considered as the triamide of cyanuric acid than as an aromatic amine (see Cyanuric AND ISOCYANURIC AClDs). Its reactivity is poor in nearly all reactions considered typical for amines. In part, this may be a result of its low solubiUty (see Amino resins and plastics). 

Organic Derivatives. Although numerous mono-, di-, and trisubstituted organic derivatives of cyanuric and isocyanuric acids appear in the hterature, many are not accessible via cyanuric acid. Cyanuric chloride 2,4,6-trichloro-j -triazine [108-77-0], is generally employed as the intermediate to most cyanurates. Trisubstituted isocyanurates can also be produced by trimerization of either aUphatic or aromatic isocyanates with appropriate catalysts (46) (see Isocyanates, organic). Alkylation of CA generally produces trisubstituted isocyanurates even when a deUberate attempt is made to produce mono- or disubstituted derivatives. There are exceptions, as in the production of mono-2-aminoethyl isocyanurate [18503-66-7] in nearly quantitative yield by reaction of CA and azitidine in DMF (47). 

Virtually all of the organo derivatives of CA are produced by reactions characteristic of a cycHc imide, wherein isocyanurate nitrogen (frequendy as the anion) nucleophilically attacks a positively polarized carbon of the second reactant. Cyanuric acid and ethylene oxide react neady quantitatively at 100°C to form tris(2-hydroxyethyl)isocyanurate [839-90-7] (THEIC) (48—52). Substitution of propylene oxide yields the hydroxypropyl analogue (48,49). At elevated temperatures (- 200° C). CA and alkylene oxides react in inert solvent to give A/-hydroxyalkyloxazohdones in approximately 70% yield (53). Alternatively, THEIC can be prepared by reaction of CA and 2-chloroethanol in aqueous caustic (52). THEIC can react further via its hydroxyl fiinctionahty to form esters, ethers, urethanes, phosphites, etc (54). Reaction of CA with epichlorohydrin in alkaline dioxane solution gives... 

Trimethyl isocyanurate [827-16-7] can be synthesized in 60% yield by the reaction of CA with dimethyl sulfate in alkaline medium (13) or with diazomethane (63) and in essentially quantitative yield by thermal rearrangement of trimethyl cyanurate [877-89-4]. Isomerization of alkyl cyanurates to the corresponding isocyanurates is frequendy observed (11,64). 

Cyanuric acid readily dissolves in aqueous formaldehyde forming tris(hydroxymethyl)isocyanurate [10471-40-6] (THMIC) which can be isolated by evaporation (11). THMIC in turn reacts with acetic anhydride to yield tris(acetoxymethyl)isocyanurate [54635-07-3], either thionyl chloride or phosphoms pentachloride to give tris(chloromethyl)isocyanurate [63579-00-0], and phenyl isocyanate in pyridine to yield tris(A/-phenylcarbamoxymethyl) isocyanurate [21253-39-4] in 87% yield (65). Reaction of CA with paraformaldehyde and 2,6-dicyclohexylphenol yields... 

Because of the high cross-link density of polyisocyanurates as prepared above, the resultant foams are brittle, so that there has been a move towards polyisocyanurate-polyurethane combinations. For example, isocyanurate-con-taining polyurethane foams have been prepared by trimerisation isocyanate-tipped TDI-based prepolymers. The isocyanurate trimerising reaction has also been carried out in the presence of polyols of molecular weight less than 300 to give foams by both one-shot and prepolymer methods. 

Whilst reaction can take place in the absence of catalysts it is more common to use such materials as tetra-alkylammonium halides and tertiary amines such as triethylenediamine. A major side reaction leads to the production of isocyanurate rings, particularly in the presence of tertiary amines. 

Rigid insulation foam, 206 Rigid isocyanurate foams, 226 RIM. See Reaction injection molding (RIM)... 

The formation of a cyclic species (isocyanurate from 3 molecules of MDI) is shown in Equation 2. This cyclotrimerizatlon reaction is highly exothermic (-95 KJ/mol in diglyme ( )) and is believed to be the major source of heat during the exothermic reaction of MDI. 

The epoxy resin component is made by a 2-stage process involving reaction of l-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane (epichlorhydrin) with isocyanuric acid to give the l,3,5-tris(2-hydroxy-3-chloropropyl) derivative, which is then treated with sodium hydroxide to eliminate hydrogen chloride to form the title compound. One batch contained more than the normal amount of hydroly sable chlorine, and when excess epichlorhydrin was distilled off, the residual material decomposed with explosive violence. It was later established that the abnormal chlorine content was associated with reduced thermal stability, and criteria for hydrolysable chlorine, epoxy content and pH have been set to prevent distillation of off-spec, material. 

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