Each time Uemura had a stop in the library, he finds something he wasn't heading for. This post reports one of his last findings:
the most easy synthesis of Hydroxylamine .
In
Journal f. prak. Chemie, Vol 21, 1880 on page 129 a paper from Dr. Gustav Prätorius-Seidler with the subject 'Zur Kenntnis des Cyanamids' can be found. The structure of cyanamide was a hot discussion topic at this time and its behaviour against different chemicals has been studied. One of these chemicals was the Hydroxylamine-chloride.
The good Prätorius made an extensive note of his preparation of the said Hydroxylamine-chloride. Uemura hasn't a clue on the reaction mechanism, but he wants the procedure to be disclosed for further discussion. Now, what was said by Dr. Prätorius:
I got 25-28grms nitromethane [1] which now was heated to 100DegC in a sealed glas tube together with twice the volume of muratic acid. After cooling the tube - in which only infrequently high pressure was present - the hydrogenchloride salt of the hydroxylamine seperated in beautiful, sometimes extreme long, cristalls from which the remaining hydrogen chloride was removed by heating them on a waterbath. This preparation, which yielded 18-20grms of Hydroxylamine-chloride, has, compared with the preparation from Lossen, the big advantage of beeing quick and giving a chemical pure product. [1] Made by Kolbe synthesis, this part was dropped by Uemura.
What happens in this reaction? It could bee something like this - which isn't stochimetrically ok.
CH3NO2 + HCl + H2O ---> CH3OH?? + HONH3*Cl
?
Any idea?
Carpe Diem
