Tris(dimethylamino)methane
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name
N,N,N′,N′,N′′,N′′-Hexamethylmethanetriamine | |
| Other names
N,N,N,N,N,N-hexamethylmethanetriamine [bis(dimethylamino)methyl]dimethylamine | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.024.804 |
| EC Number |
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PubChem CID |
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| C7H19N3 | |
| Molar mass | 145.250 g·mol−1 |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling: | |
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| Danger | |
| H225, H314 | |
| P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P260, P264, P280, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P321, P363, P370+P378, P403+P235, P405, P501 | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references | |
Tris(dimethylamino)methane (TDAM) is the simplest representative of the tris(dialkylamino)methanes of the general formula (R2N)3CH in which three of the four of methane's hydrogen atoms are replaced by dimethylamino groups (−N(CH3)2).[1] Tris(dimethylamino)methane can be regarded as both an amine and an orthoamide.
Tris(dimethylamino)methane is a strong base and can be used as a formylation agent, as aminomethylenation reagent and as a source for the basic bis(dimethylamino)carbene of the formula (R2N)2C:.[2]
Preparation
Tris(dimethylamino)methane is generally formed from dimethylaminating electron-rich formamide derivatives. For example, N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethylformamidinium chloride[1][3][4][5] or bis(dimethylamino)acetonitrile[6] react with dimethylamide salts to give TDAM:[2]

Synthesis of TDAM from TMF-Cl and lithium dimethylamide
Likewise dimethylformamide (DMF) dimethylacetal, HC(OCH3)2N(CH3)2,[7] reacts with dimethylamine in the presence of the acidic catalyst 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenol to give the same product:[8]

Synthesis of TDAM from the dimethylacetal of DMF
TDAM can be produced directly from DMF with tetrakis(dimethylamino)titanium(IV):[9]
titan.svg.png)
Synthesis of TDAM from DMF with tetrakis(dimethylamino)titanium(IV)
Red-Al[10] and other hydride reductants reduce[5] hexamethylguanidinium chloride to TDAM:

Synthesis of TDAM from hexamethylguanidinium chloride
Properties
Tris(dimethylamino)methane is a clear, colorless or pale yellow liquid with a strong ammoniacal odor. The compound is freely miscible with many non-polar aprotic and water-free solvents. However, when heated tris(dimethylamino)methane reacts with protic solvents (such as water or alcohols) but also with weak CH-acidic substances, such as acetone or acetonitrile.[2]
Upon heating to 150–190 °C decomposition occurs to tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene,[11] a strong electron donor.[12]
ethen.svg.png)
Synthesis of tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethene
Applications
Tris(dimethylamino)methane dissociates into N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylformamidinium cations and dimethylamide anions, which abstract protons from CH- and NH-acidic compounds. The anions thus formed add to the formamidinium cations which in turn eliminate dimethylamine and react to form dimethylaminomethylene compounds (= CH−N(CH3)2) or amidines by aminomethyleneation.[1]
Reaction to form a methyl α-cyano-β-dimethylaminoacrylate:

Synthesis of methyl α-cyano-β-dimethylaminoacrylate
Reaction to form N,N-dimethyl-N′-p-nitrophenylformamidine:

N,N-Dimethyl-N′-p-nitrophenylformamidine synthesis with TDAM
Aminomethylenation provides intermediates for the synthesis of heterocycles such as pyrimidines, pyrazoles, 1,4-dihydropyridines and indoles.
N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethylselenourea is accessible by the extended heating of tris(dimethylamino)methane with selenium in xylene; bis(dimethylamino)carbene is suggested as an intermediate.[13]

Synthesis of tetramethylselenourea with TDAM
Related reagent
References
- 1 2 3 Bredereck, H.; Effenberger, F.; Brendle, T. (1966). "Synthese und Reaktionen von Trisdimethylaminomethan" [Synthesis and reaction of tris(dimethylamino)methane] (PDF). Angewandte Chemie (in German). 78 (2): 147–148. Bibcode:1966AngCh..78..147B. doi:10.1002/ange.19660780212.
- 1 2 3 Kantlehner, W. (2001). "Tris(dimethylamino)methane". Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rt403. ISBN 0-471-93623-5.
- ↑ DE 1217391, Bredereck, H.; Effenberger, F. & Brendle, T., "Verfahren zur Herstellung von Tris-dimethylaminomethan (Process for the production of tris(dimethylamino)methane)", issued 1966-12-08, assigned to Bredereck, H.
- ↑ Bredereck, H.; Effenberger, F.; Brendle, T.; Muffler, H. (1968). "Orthoamide. V. Synthese von Tris-dialkylamino-methanen" [Orthoamides. V. Synthesis of tris(dimethylamino)methane]. Chemische Berichte (in German). 101 (5): 1885–1888. doi:10.1002/cber.19681010541.
- 1 2 Kantlehner, W.; Stieglitz, R.; Hauber, M.; Haug, E.; Regele, C. (2000). "Orthoamide. LII. Beiträge zur Synthese von Orthocarbonsäureamiden" [Orthoamides. LII. Articles on the synthesis of carboxylic acid orthoamides]. Journal für praktische Chemie (in German). 342 (3): 256–268. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1521-3897(200003)342:3<256::AID-PRAC256>3.0.CO;2-G.
- ↑ Kantlehner, W.; Maier, T.; Speh, P. (1979). "Tris(dialkylamino)methane und Tetraalkylformamidinium-Thiocyanate aus Bis(dialkylamino)acetonitrilen" [Tris(dialkylamino)methanes and tetraalkylformamidinium thiocyanates from bis(dialkylamino)acetonitriles]. Synthesis (in German). 1979 (5): 342–343. doi:10.1055/s-1979-28671. S2CID 97378246.
- ↑ Bredereck, H.; Effenberger, F.; Simchen, G. (1961). "Reaktionsfähige Säureamid-Dimethylsulfat-Komplexe" [Reactive acid amide–dimethyl sulfate complexes]. Angewandte Chemie (in German). 73 (14): 493. Bibcode:1961AngCh..73..493B. doi:10.1002/ange.19610731407.
- ↑ DE 2214497, Leimgruber, W. & Wick, A. E., "Verfahren zur Herstellung eines aminosubstituierten Methanderivates (Process for the manufacture of an amino-substituted methane derivative)", issued 1972-10-05, assigned to F. Hoffmann-La Roche & Co. AG
- ↑ Weingarten, H.; White, W. A. (1966). "A novel amination reaction of carboxylic acid derivatives with tetrakis(dimethylamino)titanium". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 88 (4): 850. Bibcode:1966JAChS..88..850W. doi:10.1021/ja00956a049.
- ↑ Kantlehner, W.; Speh, P.; Bräuner, H. J. (1983). "Eine einfache Synthese für Tris(dialkylamino)methane" [A simple synthesis for tris(dialkylamino)methanes]. Synthesis (in German). 1983 (11): 905–906. doi:10.1055/s-1983-30559. S2CID 101466032.
- ↑ Bredereck, H.; Effenberger, F.; Bredereck, H. J. (1966). "Eine neue Synthese von Tetra(dimethylamino)äthylen" [A new synthesis of tetra(dimethylamino)ethylene] (PDF). Angewandte Chemie (in German). 78 (21): 984. Bibcode:1966AngCh..78..984B. doi:10.1002/ange.19660782113.
- ↑ Wiberg, N.; Buchler, J. W. (1962). "Tetrakis(dimethylamino)äthylen: Ein starker Elektronendonator" [Tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene: A strong electron donor]. Angewandte Chemie (in German). 74 (14): 490–491. Bibcode:1962AngCh..74..490W. doi:10.1002/ange.19620741410.
- ↑ Kantlehner, W.; Hauber, M.; Vettel, M. (1996). "Orthoamide. IL. Umsetzungen von Orthoamid-Derivaten mit Schwefel und Selen, Synthesen von 1,3-Thiazol- und 1,3-Selenazolderivaten" [Orthoamides. XLIX. Reactions of orthoamide derivatives with sulfur and selenium, syntheses of 1,3-thiazole and 1,3-selenazole derivatives]. Journal für praktische Chemie (in German). 338 (1): 403–413. doi:10.1002/prac.19963380180.
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