Propyne

Propyne
Names
IUPAC name
Propyne
Other names
Methylacetylene,
Methyl acetylene,
Allylene
Identifiers
74-99-7 Yes
ChEBI CHEBI:48086
ChEMBL ChEMBL116902 
ChemSpider 6095
EC number 200-828-4
Jmol-3D images Image
MeSH C022030
PubChem 6335
Properties
C3H4
Molar mass 40.0639 g/mol
Appearance Colorless gas[1]
Odor Sweet[1]
Density 0.53 g/cm³
Melting point −102.7 °C (−152.9 °F; 170.5 K)
Boiling point −23.2 °C (−9.8 °F; 250.0 K)
Vapor pressure 5.2 atm (20°C)[1]
Hazards
Explosive limits 1.7%-?[1]
US health exposure limits (NIOSH):
TWA 1000 ppm (1650 mg/m3)[1]
TWA 1000 ppm (1650 mg/m3)[1]
1700 ppm[1]
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
  verify (what is: Yes/?)
Infobox references

Propyne (Methylacetylene) is an alkyne with the chemical formula CH3C≡CH. It was a component of MAPP gas—along with its isomer propadiene (allene), which was commonly used in gas welding. Unlike acetylene, propyne can be safely condensed.[2]

Production and equilibrium with propadiene

Propyne exists in equilibrium with propadiene, the mixture of propyne and propadiene being called MAPD:

H3CC≡CH ⇌ H2C=C=CH2

The coefficient of equilibrium Keq is 0.22 at 270 °C or 0.1 at 5 °C. MAPD is produced as a side product, often an undesirable one, by cracking propane to produce propene, an important feedstock in the chemical industry.[2] MAPD interferes with the catalytic polymerization of propene.

Laboratory Methods

Propyne can also be synthesized on laboratory scale by reducing 1-propanol,[3] allyl alcohol or acetone[4] vapors over magnesium.

Use as a rocket fuel

European space companies have researched using light hydrocarbons with liquid oxygen as a relatively high performing liquid rocket propellant combination that would also be less toxic than the commonly used MMH/NTO (monomethylhydrazine/nitrogen tetroxide). Their research showed that propyne would be highly advantageous as a rocket fuel for craft intended for low Earth orbital operations. They reached this conclusion based upon a specific impulse expected to reach 370 s with oxygen as the oxidizer, a high density and power density—and the moderate boiling point, which makes the chemical easier to store than fuels that must be kept at extremely low temperatures. (See cryogenics.)

Organic chemistry

Propyne is a convenient three-carbon building block for organic synthesis. Deprotonation with n-butyllithium gives propynyllithium. This nucleophilic reagent adds to carbonyl groups, producing alcohols and esters.[5] Whereas purified propyne is expensive, MAPP gas could be used to cheaply generate large amounts of the reagent.[6]

Propyne, along with 2-Butyne, is also used to synthesize alkylated hydroquinones in the total synthesis of Vitamin E.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards #0392". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Peter Pässler, Werner Hefner, Klaus Buckl, Helmut Meinass, Andreas Meiswinkel, Hans-Jũrgen Wernicke, Günter Ebersberg, Richard Müller, Jürgen Bässler, Hartmut Behringer, Dieter Mayer, "Acetylene" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry Wiley-VCH, Weinheim 2007 (doi:10.1002/14356007.a01 097.pub2).
  3. ↑ Keiser, Edward; & Breed, Mary (1895). "The Action of Magnesium Upon the Vapors of the Alcohols and a New Method of Preparing Allylene". The Journal of the Franklin Institute. CXXXIX: 304–309. doi:10.1016/0016-0032(85)90206-6. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  4. ↑ Reiser, Edward II. (1896). "The preparation of Allylene, and the Action of Magnesium upon Organic Compounds". The Chemical News and Journal of Industrial Science. LXXIV: 78–80. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  5. ↑ Michael J. Taschner, Terry Rosen, and Clayton H. Heathcock (1990). "Ethyl Isocrotonate". Org. Synth.; Coll. Vol. 7, p. 226
  6. ↑ US patent 5744071, Philip Franklin Sims, Anne Pautard-Cooper, "Processes for preparing alkynyl ketones and precursors thereof", issued 1996-11-19
  7. ↑ Reppe, Walter; Kutepow, N; and Magin, A (1969). "Cyclization of Acetylenic Compounds". Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English 8 (10): 727–733. doi:10.1002/anie.196907271. Retrieved 26 December 2013.

External links