Hexamethylenetetramine

Hexamethylenetetramine, also known as methenamine, hexamine, or urotropin, is a heterocyclic organic compound with the formula (CH2)6N4. This white crystalline compound is highly soluble in water and polar organic solvents. It has a cage-like structure similar to adamantane. It is useful in the synthesis of other organic compounds, including plastics, pharmaceuticals, and rubber additives. It sublimes in vacuum at 280 °C. Hexamethylenetetramine was discovered by Aleksandr Butlerov in 1859. It is prepared industrially by combining formaldehyde and ammonia: The reaction can be conducted in gas phase and in solution. The molecule has a tetrahedral cage-like structure, similar to adamantane. Four vertices are occupied by nitrogen atoms, which are linked by methylene groups. Although the molecular shape defines a cage, no void space is available at the interior for binding other atoms or molecules, unlike crown ethers or larger cryptand structures. The molecule behaves like an amine base, undergoing protonation and N-alkylation (e.g. quaternium-15). The dominant use of hexamethylenetetramine is in the production of powdery or liquid preparations of phenolic resins and phenolic resin moulding compounds, where it is added as a hardening component. These products are used as binders, e.g. in brake and clutch linings, abrasive products, non-woven textiles, formed parts produced by moulding processes, and fireproof materials. As the mandelic acid salt (methenamine mandelate) or the hippuric acid salt (methenamine hippurate), it is used for the treatment of urinary tract infection. In an acidic environment, methenamine is believed to act as an antimicrobial by converting to formaldehyde. A systematic review of its use for this purpose in adult women found there was insufficient evidence of benefit and further research is needed. A UK study showed that methenamine is as effective as daily low-dose antibiotics at preventing UTIs among women who experience recurrent UTIs. As methenamine is an antiseptic, it may avoid the issue of antibiotic resistance.

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Staining

Staining is a technique used to enhance contrast in samples, generally at the microscopic level. Stains and dyes are frequently used in histology (microscopic study of biological tissues), in cytology (microscopic study of cells), and in the medical fields of histopathology, hematology, and cytopathology that focus on the study and diagnoses of diseases at the microscopic level. Stains may be used to define biological tissues (highlighting, for example, muscle fibers or connective tissue), cell populations (classifying different blood cells), or organelles within individual cells.

Silver staining

In pathology, silver staining is the use of silver to selectively alter the appearance of a target in microscopy of histological sections; in temperature gradient gel electrophoresis; and in polyacrylamide gels. In traditional stained glass, silver stain is a technique to produce yellow to orange or brown shades (or green on a blue glass base), by adding a mixture containing silver compounds (notably silver nitrate), and firing lightly. It was introduced soon after 1800, and is the "stain" in the term "stained glass".

Benzene

Benzene is an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula C6H6. The benzene molecule is composed of six carbon atoms joined in a planar ring with one hydrogen atom attached to each. Because it contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms, benzene is classed as a hydrocarbon. Benzene is a natural constituent of petroleum and is one of the elementary petrochemicals. Due to the cyclic continuous pi bonds between the carbon atoms, benzene is classed as an aromatic hydrocarbon.

Organocatalysts in C-N Bond Forming Reactions of Amines with CO2

Martin Hulla

The thesis describes a simple approach for N-formylation of amines with CO2 and hydrosilane reducing agents, the use of organic salts as N-formylation catalysts, their physical properties required for high catalytic activity and their role in the catalytic ...

EPFL2019

Synthesis of Adamantane Aminoethers with Antitubercular Potential

Stewart Cole, Anthony Vocat

Background: Intrigued by the fact that aminoadamantane derivatives, bearing the active 1,2-ethylenediamine moiety, are promising antitubercular agents, we report herein the synthesis and the antitubercular evaluation of N,N'-substituded-4,4'-[adamantane-2, ...

Bentham Science Publ Ltd2017

Carbon Dioxide Based N-Formylation of Amines Catalyzed by Fluoride and Hydroxide Anions

Paul Joseph Dyson, Felix Daniel Bobbink, Martin Hulla, Shoubhik Das

We described herein a simple approach for N-formylation with CO2 and hydrosilane reducing agents. Fluoride and hydroxide salts efficiently catalyzed the reaction, principally through activation of the hydrosilanes, which led to hydrosilane reactivities com ...

Wiley-VCH Verlag Berlin2016