Chemical Properties
dark yellow-green liquid
Uses
5.Pentaethylenehexamine has been used in the preparation of:
- polyisobutylene succinimide (PIBSI) dispersants, used as engine oil-additives
- poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (P(GMA)) homopolymers
- poly(amidoamine)s
General Description
Yellowish liquid with an odor of ammonia.
Air & Water Reactions
Water soluble.
Reactivity Profile
PENTAETHYLENEHEXAMINE neutralizes acids in exothermic reactions to form salts plus water. May be incompatible with isocyanates, halogenated organics, peroxides, phenols (acidic), epoxides, anhydrides, and acid halides. Flammable gaseous hydrogen may be generated in combination with strong reducing agents, such as hydrides.
Health Hazard
Contact with eyes can cause slight to moderate irritation and possible burns. May cause transient fogging of the eyes as a result of corneal edema, which is reversible. May cause moderate skin irritation or allergic skin reaction with symptoms of redness, itching, swelling, or rash. Vapors may irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory tract. May cause coughing, headache, nausea and vomiting. If swallowed, may cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. May cause burns of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach.
Safety Profile
Moderately toxic by ingestion. Mutation data reported. Whenheated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NOx.
Purification Methods
Fractionally distil it twice at 10-20mm, the fraction boiling at 220-250o being collected. It can be further purified via the hydrochloride. Its solution in MeOH (40mL of base in 250mL) is cooled in an ice-bath and conc HCl (~50mL) is added dropwise with stirring. The precipitated hydrochloride is filtered off, washed with Me2CO, and Et2O, then dried in a vacuum desiccator. The free base is then obtained by basification, extraction into Et2O, drying (NaOH), filtering, evaporating and distilling the residue as before. It forms a Cu complex [Cu(C10H28N6)]2+. [Jonassen et al. J Am Chem Soc 79 4279 1957, Beilstein 4 IV 1245.]
