 | ||
Triuret is an organic compound with the formula (H2NC(O)NH)2CO. It is a product from the pyrolysis of urea. Triuret is a colorless, crystalline, hygroscopic solid, slightly soluble in cold water or ether, and more soluble in hot water. It is a planar molecule. The central carbonyl is hydrogen-bonded to both terminal amino groups.
Contents
Synthesis
The compound is typically prepared by heating thin layers of urea, the thin layers facilitating escape of ammonia:
3 (H2N)2CO → [H2NC(O)NH]2CO + 2 NH3It can also prepared by treatment of urea with phosgene:
2 (H2N)2CO + COCl2 → [H2NC(O)NH]2CO + 2 HClThe original synthesis entailed oxidation of uric acid with hydrogen peroxide.
Triuret is a complicating by-product in the industrial synthesis of melamine from urea.
Related compounds
References
Triuret Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA