Ethylenediamine (abbreviated as en when a ligand) is the organic compound with the formula C2H4(NH2)2. This colorless liquid with an ammonia-like odor is a basicamine. It is a widely used building block in chemical synthesis, with approximately 500,000 tonnes produced in 1998.[6] Ethylenediamine is the first member of the so-called polyethylene amines.
Ethylenediamine can be purified by treatment with sodium hydroxide to remove water followed by distillation.[9]
Applications
Ethylenediamine is used in large quantities for production of many industrial chemicals. It forms derivatives with carboxylic acids (including fatty acids), nitriles, alcohols (at elevated temperatures), alkylating agents, carbon disulfide, and aldehydes and ketones. Because of its bifunctional nature, having two amino groups, it readily forms heterocycles such as imidazolidines.
Precursor to chelation agents, drugs, and agrochemicals
A most prominent derivative of ethylenediamine is the chelating agent EDTA, which is derived from ethylenediamine via a Strecker synthesis involving cyanide and formaldehyde. Hydroxyethylethylenediamine is another commercially significant chelating agent.[6] Numerous bio-active compounds and drugs contain the N–CH2–CH2–N linkage, including some antihistamines.[10] Salts of ethylenebisdithiocarbamate are commercially significant fungicides under the brand names Maneb, Mancozeb, Zineb, and Metiram. Some imidazoline-containing fungicides are derived from ethylenediamine.[6]
Pharmaceutical ingredient
Ethylenediamine is an ingredient in the common bronchodilator drug aminophylline, where it serves to solubilize the active ingredient theophylline. Ethylenediamine has also been used in dermatologic preparations, but has been removed from some because of causing contact dermatitis.[11] When used as a pharmaceutical excipient, after oral administration its bioavailability is about 0.34, due to a substantial first-pass effect. Less than 20% is eliminated by renal excretion.[12]
Ethylenediamine, because it contains two amine groups, is a widely used precursor to various polymers. Condensates derived from formaldehyde are plasticizers. It is widely used in the production of polyurethane fibers. The PAMAM class of dendrimers are derived from ethylenediamine.[6]
as a compound to sensitize nitromethane into an explosive. This mixture was used at Picatinny Arsenal during World War II, giving the nitromethane and ethylenediamine mixture the nickname PLX, or Picatinny Liquid Explosive.
Coordination chemistry
Ethylenediamine is a well-known bidentatechelatingligand for coordination compounds, with the two nitrogen atoms donating their lone pairs of electrons when ethylenediamine acts as a ligand. It is often abbreviated "en" in inorganic chemistry. The complex [Co(en)3]3+ is an archetypical chiral tris-chelate complex. The salen ligands, some of which are used in catalysis, are derived from the condensation of salicylaldehydes and ethylenediamine.
Ethylenediamine, like ammonia and other low-molecular weight amines, is a skin and respiratory irritant. Unless tightly contained, liquid ethylenediamine will release toxic and irritating vapors into its surroundings, especially on heating. The vapors absorb moisture from humid air to form a characteristic white mist, which is extremely irritating to skin, eyes, lungs and mucus membranes.
References
^"32007R0129". European Union. 12 February 2007. Annex II. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
^Kotti, S. R. S. S.; Timmons, C.; Li, G. (2006). "Vicinal diamino functionalities as privileged structural elements in biologically active compounds and exploitation of their synthetic chemistry". Chemical Biology & Drug Design. 67 (2): 101–114. doi:10.1111/j.1747-0285.2006.00347.x. PMID16492158. S2CID37177899.
