Introduction
<P>Hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) is a heterocyclic organic compound
having a symmetric tetrahedral cage-like structure, whose four ‘corners’ are
nitrogen atoms and ‘edges’ are methylene groups.
It is also known as hexamine. It behaves like an amine
base and known for its versatile role in organic chemistry. It plays
an important role in formylation (Duff reaction),
[
¹]
[
²]
conversion
of benzyl halides into corresponding aldehydes (Sommelet
reaction),
[
³]
and synthesis
of amines (Delépine reaction).
[
4]
</P><P>HMTA is a useful reagent in the conversion of ethyl 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methylthiazole-5-carboxylate
into ethyl 2-(3-formyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methylthiazole-5-carboxylate,
an important step in the synthesis of febuxostat (hypouricemic
agent).
[
5]
Apart from these applications,
hexamethylenetetramine is also known for the synthesis of explosives
like RDX (hexogen).
[
6]
Further, it has
wide applications in polymer chemistry.
[
7]
HMTA
is commercially available and first synthesized by Butlerov via
reaction of formaldehyde with ammonia.
[
8]
</P>
