Diamine

A diamine is a type of polyamine with exactly two amino groups. Diamines are mainly used as monomers to prepare polyamides, polyimides and polyureas. In terms of quantities produced, 1,6-diaminohexane, a precursor to Nylon 6-6, is most important, followed by ethylenediamine. Hydrazine (H₂NNH₂) is usually not considered a diamine since it is neither an amine nor is it dibasic.

Aliphatic diamines

Linear aliphatic diamines

• 2 carbons: ethylenediamine (1,2-diaminoethane). Related derivatives include the N-alkylated compounds ethambutol and TMEDA.
• 3 carbons: 1,3-diaminopropane (propane-1,3-diamine)
• 4 carbons: putrescine (butane-1,4-diamine)
• 5 carbons: cadaverine (pentane-1,5-diamine)
• 6 carbons: hexamethylenediamine (hexane-1,6-diamine)

Branched aliphatic diamines

Derivatives of ethylenediamine are numerous:

• 1,2-diaminopropane
• diphenylethylenediamine
• diaminocyclohexane

Xylylenediamines

Xylylenediamines are classified as alkylamines since the amine is not directly attached to an aromatic ring.

• o-xylylenediamine or OXD
• m-xylylenediamine or MXD
• p-xylylenediamine or PXD

Aromatic diamines

Three phenylenediamines are known:

• o-phenylenediamine or OPD
• m-phenylenediamine or MPD
• p-phenylenediamine or PPD. 2,5-Diaminotoluene is related to PPD but contains a methyl group on the ring.

Various N-methylated derivatives of the phenylenediamines are known:

• dimethyl-4-phenylenediamine, a reagent.
• N,N'-di-2-butyl-1,4-phenylenediamine, an antioxidant.

Examples with two aromatic rings include derivatives of biphenyl and naphthalene:

• 4,4'-diaminobiphenyl
• 1,8-diaminonaphthalene

• 
  Ethylenediamine
• 
  Cadaverine
• 
  PPD (para-phenylenediamine)

External links

• Diamines at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
• Synthesis of diamines