Aminal

In organic chemistry, an aminal or aminoacetal is a functional group or type of organic compound that has two amine groups attached to the same carbon atom: . (As is customary in organic chemistry, R can represent hydrogen or an alkyl group). A common aminal is bis(dimethylamino)methane, a colorless liquid that is prepared by the reaction of dimethylamine and formaldehyde: Aminals are encountered in, for instance, the Fischer indole synthesis. Several examples exist in nature. Physostigmin.svg|[[Physostigmine]],a highly [[toxic]] [[cholinesterase inhibitor]] found in the [[Calabar bean]]. Hodgkinsine.svg|Hodgkinsine, an [[alkaloid]] with [[Antimicrobial|antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal]] effects 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolic acid.svg|[[5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate]], an intermediate in one-carbon metabolism Hexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (), an intermediate in the condensation of formaldehyde and ammonia, tends to degrade to hexamethylene tetraamine. Cyclic aminals can be obtained by the condensation of a diamine and an aldehyde. Imidazolidines are one class of these cyclic aminals.