2-tert-Butyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine

Summary

2-tert-Butyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine is an organic base, also known as Barton's base. It is named after Nobel Prize-winning British chemist Derek Barton. Barton and his assistants prepared a series of guanidines with steric hindrance in 1982; in this case five alkyl groups: four methyl groups and one tert-butyl group.[1][2] In 50% water ethanol mixture, the acidity constant (pKa) of Barton's base is 14.[1] In acetonitrile its pKa is 24.31.

2-tert-Butyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine
2-tert-butyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
N-tert-Butyl-N,N,N,N-tetramethylguanidine
Other names
BTMG, Barton's base
Identifiers
  • 29166-72-1
3D model (JSmol)
  • Interactive image
ChemSpider
  • 2808676
ECHA InfoCard 100.157.697 Edit this at Wikidata
  • 3571581
  • DTXSID10393758 Edit this at Wikidata
  • InChI=1S/C9H21N3/c1-9(2,3)10-8(11(4)5)12(6)7/h1-7H3
    Key: YQHJFPFNGVDEDT-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • CC(C)(C)N=C(N(C)C)N(C)C
Properties
C9H21N3
Molar mass 171.288 g·mol−1
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS05: CorrosiveGHS07: Exclamation mark
Danger
H302, H314
P260, P264, P270, P280, P301+P312, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P310, P321, P330, P363, P405, P501
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Synthesis edit

The base is prepared by the reaction of tert-butylamine with a Vilsmeier salt. The latter is the reaction product of phosgene with tetramethylurea.

Applications edit

Barton's base can be used in many organic reactions, including in alkylations and in the formation of aziridines. It is often a milder alternative to traditional, strong inorganic bases.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Barton, Derek H. R.; Elliott, John D.; Géro, Stephen D. (1982). "Synthesis and properties of a series of sterically hindered guanidine bases". J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1: 2085–2090. doi:10.1039/P19820002085.
  2. ^ Reason and imagination : reflections on research in organic chemistry : selected papers of Derek H.R. Barton. World Scientific/Imperial College Press. 1996. ISBN 9810213611.