Ethyl isocyanate → N-Dodecyl-N'-ethylurea

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Dodecylamine (370 g) was placed in 80/100° fraction petroleum ether (1.5 litre) and stirred in a flask fitted with a dipping thermometer, tap funnel and reflux condenser. A mixture of ethyl isocyanate (142 g) and petroleum ether (150 ml) was run in slowly whilst external cooling was applied to the flask. The temperature was allowed to reach but not exceed 50° C. The mixture was stirred for 1 hour after the addition was complete, maintaining the temperature at about 50° C. The reaction was then allowed to cool and the copious white precipitate (which had begun to separate as soon as the isocyanate addition commenced) was filtered off, pressed well and washed with about 300 ml petroleum ether. The white mass was dried in vacuum at 50° C. to give a quantitative yield (512 g) with a melting point of 84° to 87° C. The product was not subjected to any further purification before use.

Provenance & Evidence