Acetaldehyde ammonia trimer

Acetaldehyde ammonia trimer is a chemical compound described by the formula (CH₃CHNH)₃. The pure material is colourless but samples often appear light yellow or slightly beige due to the degradation by oxidation. It is hygroscopic, and can be found in a trihydrate form.

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As implied by its name, it is a trimeric species formed from the reaction of acetaldehyde and ammonia:

3 CH₃CHO + 3 NH₃ → (CH₃CHNH)₃ + 3 H₂O

Studies using NMR spectroscopy indicate that the three methyl groups are equatorial, thus the molecule has C_3v point group symmetry.^[1]

The compound is related to hexamethylenetetramine, which is the condensation product of the condensation of ammonia and formaldehyde.

References

1. ^ Nielsen, A. T.; Atkins, R. L.; Moore, D. W.; Scott, R. Mallory, D.; LaBerge, J. M. "Structure and Chemistry of the Aldehyde Ammonias. 1-Amino-1-alkanols, 2,4,6-Trialkyl-1,3,5-hexahydrotriazines, and N,N-Dialkylidene-1,1-Diaminoalkanes" Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1973, volume 38, pp 3288 - 3295; doi:10.1021/jo00959a010