1,3,5-Trioxane

1,3,5-Trioxane

1,3,5-Trioxane

Chemical compound


1,3,5-Trioxane, sometimes also called trioxane or trioxin, is a chemical compound with molecular formula C3H6O3. It is a white, highly water-soluble solid with a chloroform-like odor. It is a stable cyclic trimer of formaldehyde, and one of the three trioxane isomers; its molecular backbone consists of a six-membered ring with three carbon atoms alternating with three oxygen atoms.

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Production

Trioxane can be obtained by the acid-catalyzed cyclic trimerization of formaldehyde in concentrated aqueous solution.[2]

Uses

Trioxane can be used interchangeably with formaldehyde and with paraformaldehyde,[3][4] however the cyclic structure is more stable and it can require high temperatures in order to react. It is a precursor for the production of polyoxymethylene plastics, of which about one million tons per year are produced.[2] Other applications exploit its tendency to release formaldehyde. As such it is used as a binder in textiles, wood products, etc. Trioxane is combined with hexamine and compressed into solid bars to make hexamine fuel tablets, used by the military and outdoorsmen as a cooking fuel.

In the laboratory, trioxane is used as an anhydrous source of formaldehyde.[5]

See also


References

  1. Reuss, Günther; Disteldorf, Walter; Gamer, Armin Otto; Hilt, Albrecht (2000). "Formaldehyde". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a11_619. ISBN 978-3527306732.
  2. K. Chen; C. S. Brook; A. B. Smith, III (1998). "6,7-Dihydrocyclopenta-1,3-Dioxin-5(4H)-One". Organic Syntheses. 75: 189. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.075.0189.
  3. D. S. Connor; G. W. Klein; G. N. Taylor; R. K. Boeckman, Jr; J. B. Medwid (1972). "Benzyl Chloromethyl Ether". Organic Syntheses. 52: 16. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.052.0016.
  4. W. O. Teeters; M. A. Gradsten (1950). "Hexahydro-1,3,5-Tripropionyl-s-Triazine". Organic Syntheses. 30: 51. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.030.0051.

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