| N,N'-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide | |
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N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide |
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Other names
Cyclohexanamine, DCC |
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| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 538-75-0 |
| PubChem | 10868 |
| ChemSpider | 10408 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:53090 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL162598 |
| RTECS number | FF2160000 |
| Jmol-3D images | Image 1 |
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C13H22N2 |
| Molar mass | 206.33 g mol−1 |
| Appearance | white crystalline powder |
| Density | 1.325 g/cm3, solid |
| Melting point |
34 °C, 307 K, 93 °F |
| Boiling point |
122°C (395 K at 6 mmHg) |
| Solubility in water | not soluble |
| Hazards | |
| R-phrases | R22 R24 R41 R43 |
| S-phrases | S24 S26 S37/39 S45 |
| NFPA 704 |
1
3
0
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| Flash point | 113 °C |
| Related compounds | |
| Related carbodiimides | N,N'-diisopropylcarbodiimide, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride |
| (verify) (what is: /?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
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| Infobox references | |
N,N'-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide is an organic compound with chemical formula C13H22N2 whose primary use is to couple amino acids during artificial peptide synthesis. Under standard conditions, it exists in the form of white crystals with a heavy, sweet odor. The low melting point of this material allows it to be melted for easy handling. It is highly soluble in dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, acetonitrile and dimethylformamide, but insoluble in water. The compound is often abbreviated DCC.
Contents |
The C-N=C=N-C core of carbodiimides (N=C=N) is linear, being related to the structure of allene. Three principal resonance structures describe carbodiimides:
The N=C=N moiety gives characteristic IR spectroscopic signature at 2117 cm-1.[1] The 15N NMR spectrum shows a characteristic shift of 275.0 ppm upfield of nitric acid and the 13C NMR spectrum features a peak at about 139 ppm downfield from TMS.[2]
Of the several syntheses of DCC, Pri-Bara et al. use palladium acetate, iodine, and oxygen to couple cyclohexyl amine and cyclohexyl isocyanide.[3] Yields of up to 67% have been achieved using this route:
Tang et al. condense two isocyanates using the catalyst OP(MeNCH2CH2)3N in yields of 92%:[1]
DCC has also been prepared from dicyclohexylurea using a phase transfer catalyst by Jaszay et al. The disubstituted urea, arenesulfonyl chloride, and potassium carbonate react in toluene in the presence of benzyl triethylammonium chloride to give DCC in 50% yield.[4]
DCC is a dehydrating agent for the preparation of amides, ketones, nitriles. In these reactions, DCC hydrates to form dicyclohexylurea (DCU), a compound that is insoluble in water. DCC can also be used to invert secondary alcohols.
A solution of DCC and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) effects the so-called Pfitzner-Moffatt oxidation. This procedure is used for the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones. Unlike metal-mediated oxidations, the reaction conditions are sufficiently mild to avoid over-oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids. Generally, three equivalents of DCC and 0.5 equivalent of proton source in DMSO and allowed to react overnight at room temperature. The reaction is quenched with acid:
Alcohols can also be dehydrated using DCC. This reaction proceeds by first giving the O-acylurea intermediate which is then hydrogenolyzed to produce the corresponding alkene:
Secondary alcohols can be stereochemically inverted by formation of a formyl ester followed by saponification. The secondary alcohol is mixed directly with DCC, formic acid, and a strong base such as sodium methoxide.
A range of alcohols, including even some tertiary alcohols, can be esterified using a carboxylic acid in the presence of DCC and a catalytic amount of DMAP.[5]
During protein synthesis (such as Fmoc solid-state synthesizers), the N-terminus is often used as the attachement site on which the amino acid monomers are added. To enhance the electrophilicity of carboxylate group, the negatively charged oxygen must first be "activated" into a better leaving group. DCC is used for this purpose. The negatively charged oxygen will act as a nucleophile, attacking the central carbon in DCC. DCC is temporarily attached to the former carboxylate group forming a highly electrophilic intermediate, making nucleophilic attack by the terminal amino group on the growing peptide more efficient.
DCC is a potent allergen and a sensitizer, often causing skin rashes.