General Description
Transparent crystals or white crystalline solid with a pleasant odor resembling the odor of chloroform. Melts at 62°C; boils at 115°C without polymerization. The cyclic trimer of formaldehyde.
Reactivity Profile
1,3,5-TRIOXANE(110-88-3) is stable under normal laboratory conditions but is unstable in the presence of acids, which initiate polymerization. Sublimes readily. May react with oxidizing matter . A stable polymeric product of formaldehyde that in the presence of strong aqueous acids will depolymerize (reforming the parent formaldehyde). Inert to strong alkalis. Readily converted in non aqueous solutions to the monomeric formaldehyde by small concentrations of acid---the rate of conversion is directly proportional to the concentration of the acid.
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Water soluble.
Health Hazard
ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: This compound is toxic and flammable. It can emit toxic fumes on contact with acid or acid fumes.
Potential Exposure
Paraformaldehyde is used in polyacetal
resin manufacture; as a food additive; and as an
odorless fuel.
Fire Hazard
This chemical is combustible.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least
30 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the
skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately
with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately.
If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure,
begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including
resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if
heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical
facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get
medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce
vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.
Medical observation is recommended for 24－48 hours
after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be
Shipping
UN2213 Paraformaldehyde, Hazard Class: 4.1;
Labels: 4.1-Flammable solid.
Incompatibilities
Paraformaldehyde dust forms an explosive
mixture with air. Decomposes on contact with oxidizers,
strong acids; acid fumes; and bases; with elevated temperatures,
forming formaldehyde. May explode when heated.
May explode on impact if peroxide contamination develops.
Mixtures with hydrogen peroxide or liquid oxygen are
explosives sensitive to heat, shock, or contact with lead.
Chemical Properties
Paraformaldehyde is a white crystalline solid.
Irritating odor. The term “trioxane” applies specifically to
this trimer (CH2O)3 but paraformaldehyde is applied both
to trioxane and other low polymers or oligomers of formaldehyde.
Chemical Properties
Trioxane is a most unusual chemical. It is an excellent solvent for many classes of materials. Concentrated aqueous solutions of trioxane have solvent properties which are not possessed by trioxane itself. Molten trioxane dissolves numerous organic compounds, such as naphthalene, urea, camphor, dichlorobenzene, etc. It is stable in alkaline or neutral solutions, yet it is depolymerized to formaldehyde by small amounts of strong acid or acid-forming materials, and the rate of depolymerization can be readily controlled.
Waste Disposal
Dissolve or mix the material
with a combustible solvent and burn in a chemical incinerator
equipped with an afterburner and scrubber. All federal,
state, and local environmental regulations must be observed.
Uses
1,3,5-Trioxane is widely used as a source of anhydrous formaldehyde.
It can be used to synthesize:
- Polyoxymethylene and hyperbranched polyesters.
- Calixarenes such as calix[4]resorcinarene, calix[6]resorcinarene and para-tert-butylcalix[8] and [9]arene.
- Various natural products including (?)-motuporin, (+)-sundiversifolide, (+)-lyconadin A and (?)-lyconadin B.
Uses
1,3,5-Trioxane is used in organic chemical processes such as aldol condensation of amides and syntheses of chloromethyl esters or other plastics.
Definition
ChEBI: A saturated organic heteromonocyclic parent that is cyclohexane in which the carbon atoms at positions 1, 3 and 5 are replaced by oxygen atoms.
Purification Methods
Crystallise 1,3,4-trioxane from sodium-dried diethyl ether or water, and dry it over CaCl2. It can also be purified by zone refining. [Beilstein 19 H 381, 19 II 392, 19 III/IV 4710, 19/9 V 103.]
