Organic Syntheses Procedure

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Org. Synth. 1960, 40, 60

DOI: 10.15227/orgsyn.040.0060

HYDROXYUREA

[Urea, hydroxy-]

Submitted by R. Deghenghi¹

Checked by Melvin S. Newman and John Eberwein.

1. Procedure

To a solution of 20.8 g. (0.3 mole) of hydroxylamine hydrochloride and 20.6 g. (0.5 mole) of sodium hydroxide (98%) in 100 ml. of water is added 22.26 g. (0.25 mole) of ethyl carbamate. After 3 days at room temperature the solution is cooled in an ice bath and carefully neutralized with concentrated hydrochloric acid (Note 1). If necessary (Note 2), the solution is filtered and then extracted with ether; the aqueous phase is evaporated on a water bath under reduced pressure as rapidly as possible at a temperature not above 50–60°.

The dry residue is extracted by boiling with 100 ml. of absolute ethanol, and the solution is filtered through a heated funnel. On cooling, a first crop (6–8 g.) of hydroxyurea crystallizes.

The saline residue on the filter is extracted once again with 50 ml. of boiling absolute ethanol. On concentrating the filtrate from the second extraction and the mother liquor from the first crystallizate to a small volume, a second crop (4–6 g.) of product is obtained. The yield of the hydroxyurea is 10–14 g. (53–73%) of white crystals, m.p. 137–141° (dec.).

The product may be purified by recrystallization of 10 g. from 150 ml. of absolute ethanol. The rate of solution is slow (15–30 minutes is required), and the yield of hydroxyurea, m.p. 139–141° (dec.), is about 8 g. (Note 3).

2. Notes

1. Neutralization to phenolphthalein is satisfactory, but a glass electrode might give better results. Hydroxyurea is decomposed very rapidly in aqueous acidic medium, whereas its metallic salts (sodium or the copper complex salts) are stable.

2. Insoluble matter is sometimes present if a commercial grade of reactants is employed.

3. It is preferable to store the crystals in a cool, dry place. Some decomposition may occur after a few weeks.

3. Discussion

The improved method herein described is adapted from the procedure of Runti and Deghenghi.² Hydroxyurea has been prepared from potassium cyanate and hydroxylamine hydrochloride.³^,⁴^,⁵ A lower melting isomeric substance, m.p. 71°, has been described.⁴^,⁵^,⁶ The structure NH₂CO₂NH₂ has been proposed⁵^,⁶ for this low-melting substance.

References and Notes

Department of Medical Research, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.
C. Runti and R. Deghenghi, Ann. Triest. Cura Univ. Trieste, sez. 2, 22, 185 (1953); C.A., 49, 1568 (1955).
W. F. C. Fresler and R. Stein, Ann., 150, 242 (1869).
L. Francesconi and A. Parrozzani, Gazz. Chim. Ital, 31 II, 334 (1901).
H. Kofod, Acta Chem. Scand., 7, 274, 938 (1953).
O. Exner, Chem. Lisly, 50, 2025 (1956).

Appendix
Chemical Abstracts Nomenclature (Collective Index Number);
(Registry Number)

ethanol (64-17-5)

hydrochloric acid (7647-01-0)

ether (60-29-7)

sodium hydroxide (1310-73-2)

Hydroxylamine hydrochloride (5470-11-1)

phenolphthalein (77-09-8)

potassium cyanate (590-28-3)

ethyl carbamate (51-79-6)

Hydroxyurea,
Urea, hydroxy- (127-07-1)

Notes

References/EndNotes

Article Compounds

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