Diamine
Amine with two amino groups
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Through Amine
Practical considerations
In terms of quantities produced, 1,6-diaminohexane (a precursor to Nylon 6-6) is most important, followed by ethylenediamine. Vicinal diamines (1,2-diamines) are a structural motif in many biological compounds and are used as ligands in coordination chemistry. Many diamines are used as hardeners in the curing of epoxide resins. Putrescine and cadaverine are simple diamines that occur widely in nature.
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Aliphatic diamines
Linear
- 2 carbon backbone: ethylenediamine (1,2-diaminoethane). Related derivatives include the N-alkylated compounds, 1,1-dimethylethylenediamine, 1,2-dimethylethylenediamine, ethambutol, tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene, TMEDA. Many 1,2-diamine derivatives are of practical interest such as penicillin.
- 3 carbon backbone: 1,3-diaminopropane (propane-1,3-diamine)
- 4 carbon backbone: putrescine (butane-1,4-diamine)
- 5 carbon backbone: cadaverine (pentane-1,5-diamine)
- 6 carbon backbone: hexamethylenediamine (hexane-1,6-diamine, HMD). HMD and other long chain diamines can be prepared by hydrocyanation to give dinitrile, which can be hydrogenated.
Branched
Derivatives of ethylenediamine are prominent:
- 1,2-diaminopropane, which is chiral.
- 2,3-Butanediamine, two diastereomers, one of which is C2-symmetric.
- Diphenylethylenediamine, two diastereomers, one of which is C2-symmetric.
- trimethylhexamethylenediamine, several isomers
- 1,2-Diaminocyclohexane, two diastereomers, one of which is C2-symmetric.
Cyclic
- piperazine ((CH2CH2NH)2)
- 1,4-Diazacycloheptane
Xylylenediamines
Xylylenediamines are classified as alkylamines since the amine is not directly attached to an aromatic ring.
- o-xylylenediamine or OXD
- m-xylylenediamine or MXD
- p-xylylenediamine or PXD
Aromatic diamines
Three phenylenediamines are known:
- o-phenylenediamine or OPD
- m-phenylenediamine or MPD
- p-phenylenediamine or PPD. 2,5-diaminotoluene is related to PPD but contains a methyl group on the ring.
Various N-methylated derivatives of the phenylenediamines are known:
- dimethyl-4-phenylenediamine, a reagent.
- N,N'-di-2-butyl-1,4-phenylenediamine, an antioxidant.
Examples with two aromatic rings include derivatives of biphenyl and naphthalene:
- 4,4'-diaminobiphenyl
- 1,8-diaminonaphthalene
Geminal diamines
Geminal diamines (1,1-diamines) are an uncommon class of diamines mainly of academic interest. Of the few that exist, most are di-tertiary amines. Bis(dimethylamino)methane ([(CH3)2N]2CH2) is an isolable example.
Geminal diamines with N-H bonds are particularly rare. They are invoked as intermediates in transamination reactions and the reduction of amidines. In aqueous conditions they preferentially eliminate the less basic amine to leave an iminium ion. Some stable geminal diamines have been isolated. The parent gem-diamine is methylenediamine (diaminomethane), which again is mainly of theoretical interest.