Isopropylamine
Encyclopedia
Isopropylamine, also called 2-aminopropane, 2-propanamine, monoisopropylamine, and MIPA, is an organic compound
, an amine
. It is a base, as typical for amines. It is a hygroscopic colorless liquid with ammonia
-like odor. Its melting point is −95.2 °C and its boiling point is 32.4 °C. It is miscible with water. It is extremely flammable, with flash point
at −37 °C.
Isopropylamine can be obtained by aminating isopropyl alcohol
with ammonia
in presence of a nickel/copper or similar catalyst:2CHOH + NH3 → (CH3)2CHNH2 + H2O
The main uses of isopropylamine are in glyphosate herbicide
formulations (e.g., Roundup or Vantage
), a key component of atrazine
(another herbicide), a regulating agent for plastic
s, intermediate in organic synthesis of coating materials, plastics, pesticides, rubber chemicals, pharmaceuticals and others, and as an additive in the petroleum industry
.
Together with isopropyl alcohol
it is used in some binary chemical weapon
s, as a mixture called OPA which in turn mixed with methylphosphonyl difluoride
(known to the military as DF) produces sarin gas.
Organic compound
An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of carbon-containing compounds such as carbides, carbonates, simple oxides of carbon, and cyanides, as well as the...
, an amine
Amine
Amines are organic compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are derivatives of ammonia, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent such as an alkyl or aryl group. Important amines include amino acids, biogenic amines,...
. It is a base, as typical for amines. It is a hygroscopic colorless liquid with ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
-like odor. Its melting point is −95.2 °C and its boiling point is 32.4 °C. It is miscible with water. It is extremely flammable, with flash point
Flash point
The flash point of a volatile material is the lowest temperature at which it can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air. Measuring a flash point requires an ignition source...
at −37 °C.
Isopropylamine can be obtained by aminating isopropyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol is a common name for a chemical compound with the molecular formula C3H8O. It is a colorless, flammable chemical compound with a strong odor...
with ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
in presence of a nickel/copper or similar catalyst:2CHOH + NH3 → (CH3)2CHNH2 + H2O
The main uses of isopropylamine are in glyphosate herbicide
Herbicide
Herbicides, also commonly known as weedkillers, are pesticides used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed. Some of these act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often synthetic "imitations" of plant...
formulations (e.g., Roundup or Vantage
Vantage
Vantage may refer to:*Vantage, Washington, a census-designated place in Kittitas County, Washington*Aston Martin V8 Vantage , an automobile brand manufactured by Aston Martin*Vantage , a cigarette brand manufactured by R.J...
), a key component of atrazine
Atrazine
Atrazine, 2-chloro-4--6--s-triazine, an organic compound consisting of an s-triazine-ring is a widely used herbicide. Its use is controversial due to widespread contamination in drinking water and its associations with birth defects and menstrual problems when consumed by humans at concentrations...
(another herbicide), a regulating agent for plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
s, intermediate in organic synthesis of coating materials, plastics, pesticides, rubber chemicals, pharmaceuticals and others, and as an additive in the petroleum industry
Petroleum industry
The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transporting , and marketing petroleum products. The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline...
.
Together with isopropyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol is a common name for a chemical compound with the molecular formula C3H8O. It is a colorless, flammable chemical compound with a strong odor...
it is used in some binary chemical weapon
Binary chemical weapon
Binary chemical weapons or munitions are chemical weapons wherein the toxic agent is not contained within the weapon in its active state, but in the form of two chemical precursors, physically separated within the weapon...
s, as a mixture called OPA which in turn mixed with methylphosphonyl difluoride
Methylphosphonyl difluoride
Methylphosphonyl difluoride , also called methyl difluorophosphite, methylphosphonic difluoride, and difluoromethylphosphine oxide, is a chemical weapon precursor. It is a Schedule 1 substance in the sense of the Chemical Weapons Convention...
(known to the military as DF) produces sarin gas.