Ethylenediamine
is a colourless to yellowish, strongly alkaline liquid, melting at 8.5 C,
boiling at 116 C; completely soluble in water and soluble alcohol. It is a
manufactured chemical that does not occur naturally. It has two primary amine
groups. There are homologous odd number amine (on even number linear carbon
chain) series of ethylenediamines; diethylenetriamine (linear C-4 diamine),
triethylenetetramine (linear C-6 triamine), tetraethylenepentamine (linear C-8
pentamine), and pentaethylenehexamine (linear C-10 hexamine).
Diethylenediamine is the simplest cyclic
ethyleneamine (C-4), called piperazine. It has two secondary amine groups in
cyclic system. It is a deliquescent crystalline compound melting at 105 C;
soluble in water, alcohol, glycerol, and glycols. It is used as a main
ingredient of anthelmintics and psychoactive drugs. Aminoethylpiperazine is also
a member of C- 6 cyclic ethyleneamine which has aminoethyl attached to a
nitrogen in piperazine. Accordingly, it has one primary, one secondary, and one
tertiary nitrogen atom. It is used in the synthesis of catalysts, epoxy curing
agent, and corrosion inhibitors. Aminoethylethanolamine (AEEA) is an analogue of
diethylenetriamine. A hydroxyl group replace for an primary amine group. AEEA
has one primary amine, one secondary amine, and one primary hydroxyl group. AEEA
is a useful intermediate in the production of surfactants, chelating agents, and
curing agents. Other branched or cyclic ethylenediamines include
N,N'-Bis-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine) [CAS #: 6531-38-0],
N-[(2-aminoethyl)2-aminoethyl]piperazine) [CAS #: 24028-46-4],
tris(2-aminoethyl)amine) [CAS #: 4097-89-6].
Ethylenediamines are produced by the reaction of
aqueous ammonia with 1,2-dichloroethane. This process yields the mixture of
polyamines in the form of hydrochloride salts. The next step is neutralisation
of the salts with aqueous caustic soda to separate free amines. The individual
free amines are isolated by fractional distillation. Ethylenediamines are
capable of entering into a variety of reactions because of their combination of
reactivity, basicity, and surface activity and of the basic functionality of the
nitrogen atom. They are therefore important intermediates for a wide variety of
chemical syntheses. Examples of products obtained by reacting amines are as
follows:
- with
carboxylic acid dericatives (acids, esters, anhydrides, or acyl halides): amides
and amidoamines
- with fatty
acid: imidazoline
- with
cyanides or nitriles: amidoamines, polyamides, imidazolines
- with urea:
substituted urea and ammonia
- with
ethyleneimines: hydroxyalkyl amine derivatives
- with
aliphatic alcohols and glycols: alkylated ethyleneamines or cyclic
ethyleneamines
- with alkyl
or aryl halides: substituted amines
- with
aliphatic aldehydes: substituted imidazolidines
- with carbon
disulfide: thiocarbamates
- with carbon
dioxide: carbamate
- with
inorganic acids: water soluble salts
Ethylenediamine is used as a very important
bidentate ligand forming chelate agents. The main application is to produce
chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). It is used in
the manufacture of carbamate fungicides, surfactant and dyes. It is useful also
in manufacturing accelerator or curing agent in epoxy industry. Additional
applications include manufacturing photography development chemicals and cutting
oils, bleaching activators for washing powders especially at low temperature,
lubricant for plastics and polyamide process, and fuel additives.
Diethylenetriamine is a yellow, hygroscopic liquid;
boiling point of 206 C; soluble in water and hydrocarbons. It is used as a
solvent for sulfur, acidic gas, resin and as a fuel and oil field component. It
is used as an Intermediate for organic synthesis (modified polyamides, corrosion
inhibitors, fuel additives, epoxy curing agents, fabric softeners and adhesion
promoters) and saponification agent for acidic materials.
Triethylenetetramine is a clear to yellowish oily
liquid; melting point 12 C, boiling point 280 C. It is miscible with water and
the solution is alkaline ( (pH 10 at 10% solution). It reacts with ketones,
halogenated hydrocarbons, nitriles, epoxides, and with strong oxidants.
Commercial triethylenetetramine is a mixture of linear TETA (typically 60%) and
branched or cyclic TETA such as N,N'-Bis(2-aminoethyl)piperazine,
N-[1-(2-piperazin-1-yl-ethyl)]ethane -1,2-diamine, tris-(2-aminoethyl)-amine.
TETA and its derivatives are used as an epoxy curing agent. Their applications
are similar to those of ethylenediamine and
diethylenetriamine.
End uses of
ethylenediamine family products include:
- Dispersant-detergent
- Modified
Polyamides
- Fabric
Softeners
- Ore
Flotation Agents
- Emulsifiers
- Corrosion
Inhibitors
- Adhesives
- Binding
Agents
- Chelating
Agents
- Bleach
Activators
- Epoxy Curing
Agent
Pentamethyldiethylenetriamine
is used as a catalyst for polyurethane foams.
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