3092. Dicyanodiamide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 461-58-5
Cyanoguanidine.
C2H4N4; mol wt 84.08.
C 28.57%, H 4.80%, N 66.64%.

Description and references

Prepared by controlled polymerization of cyanamide in water in the presence of ammonia, alkaline earth hydroxides, or other suitable bases: Grube, Nitsche, Z. Angew. Chem. 27, 368 (1914); Pinck, Hetherington, Ind. Eng. Chem. 27, 834 (1935); Pinck, Inorg. Synth. 3, 43 (1950).

Chemical structure

Properties

Monoclinic prismatic crystals from water or alcohol, mp 209.5°. d425 1.400. Eutectic with cyanamide at 35.6° (15% dicyanodiamide). Specific heat 0.456 at 0-204°. Neutral reaction. Soly in water at 13°: 2.26%, more sol in hot water. Solns above 80° dec slowly, yielding ammonia. Soly in abs ethanol at 13°: 1.26%; in ether: 0.01%. Insol in benzene, chloroform. Sol in liquid ammonia.

Use

In the plastics industry (manuf of melamine). In the pharmaceutical industry (barbiturates, guanidine derivs).