N,N'-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

N,N′-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC or DCCD)[1] is an organic compound with the chemical formula (C₆H₁₁N)₂C. It is a waxy white solid with a sweet odor. Its primary use is to couple amino acids during artificial peptide synthesis. The low melting point of this material allows it to be melted for easy handling. It is highly soluble in dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, acetonitrile and dimethylformamide, but insoluble in water.

N,N'-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

Names
Preferred IUPAC name N,N'-Dicyclohexylmethanediimine
Other names Dicyclohexylmethanediimine N,N'-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide DCC, DCCD, DCCI
Identifiers
CAS Number	538-75-0
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
Beilstein Reference	610662
ChEBI	CHEBI:53090
ChEMBL	ChEMBL162598
ChemSpider	10408
ECHA InfoCard	100.007.914
EC Number	208-704-1
Gmelin Reference	51651
PubChem CID	10868
RTECS number	FF2160000
UNII	0T1427205E
UN number	2811
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID1023817
InChI InChI=1S/C13H22N2/c1-3-7-12(8-4-1)14-11-15-13-9-5-2-6-10-13/h12-13H,1-10H2 Key: QOSSAOTZNIDXMA-UHFFFAOYSA-N InChI=1/C13H22N2/c1-3-7-12(8-4-1)14-11-15-13-9-5-2-6-10-13/h12-13H,1-10H2 Key: QOSSAOTZNIDXMA-UHFFFAOYAO
SMILES N(=C=N\C1CCCCC1)\C2CCCCC2
Properties
Chemical formula	C13H22N2
Molar mass	206.333 g·mol^−1
Appearance	white crystalline powder
Density	1.325 g/cm^3, solid
Melting point	34 °C (93 °F; 307 K)
Boiling point	122 °C (252 °F; 395 K) (at 6 mmHg)
Solubility in water	not soluble
Hazards
GHS pictograms
GHS Signal word	Danger
GHS hazard statements	H302, H311, H317, H318
GHS precautionary statements	P261, P264, P270, P272, P280, P301+312, P302+352, P305+351+338, P310, P312, P321, P322, P330, P333+313, P361, P363, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)	1 3
Flash point	113 °C (235 °F; 386 K)
Related compounds
Related carbodiimides	DIC,EDC
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Structure and spectroscopy

The C-N=C=N-C core of carbodiimides (N=C=N) is linear, being related to the structure of allene. The molecule has idealized C₂ symmetry.

The N=C=N moiety gives characteristic IR spectroscopic signature at 2117 cm⁻¹.[2] The ¹⁵N NMR spectrum shows a characteristic shift of 275 ppm upfield of nitric acid and the ¹³C NMR spectrum features a peak at about 139 ppm downfield from TMS.[3]

Preparation

Of the several syntheses of DCC, Pri-Bara et al. use palladium acetate, iodine, and oxygen to couple cyclohexyl amine and cyclohexyl isocyanide.[4] Yields of up to 67% have been achieved using this route:

C₆H₁₁NC + C₆H₁₁NH₂ + O₂ → (C₆H₁₁N)₂C + H₂O

Tang et al. condense two isocyanates using the catalyst OP(MeNCH₂CH₂)₃N in yields of 92%:[2]

Homogeneous catalysis

DCC has also been prepared from dicyclohexylurea using a phase transfer catalyst by Jaszay et al. The disubstituted urea, arenesulfonyl chloride, and potassium carbonate react in toluene in the presence of benzyl triethylammonium chloride to give DCC in 50% yield.[5]

Phase transfer catalysis

Reactions

Amide-, peptide-, and ester formation

DCC is a dehydrating agent for the preparation of amides, ketones and nitriles.[1] In these reactions, DCC hydrates to form dicyclohexylurea (DCU), a compound that is nearly insoluble in most organic solvents and insoluble in water. The majority of the DCU is thus readily removed by filtration, although the last traces can be difficult to eliminate from non-polar products. DCC can also be used to invert secondary alcohols. In the Steglich esterification, alcohols, including even some tertiary alcohols, can be esterified using a carboxylic acid in the presence of DCC and a catalytic amount of DMAP.[6]

In protein synthesis (such as Fmoc solid-state synthesizers), the N-terminus is often used as the attachment site on which the amino acid monomers are added. To enhance the electrophilicity of carboxylate group, the negatively charged oxygen must first be "activated" into a better leaving group. DCC is used for this purpose. The negatively charged oxygen will act as a nucleophile, attacking the central carbon in DCC. DCC is temporarily attached to the former carboxylate group forming a highly electrophilic intermediate, making nucleophilic attack by the terminal amino group on the growing peptide more efficient.

Moffatt oxidation

In combination with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), DCC effects the Pfitzner-Moffatt oxidation.[7] This procedure is used for the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones. Unlike metal-mediated oxidations, such as the Jones oxidation, the reaction conditions are sufficiently mild to avoid over-oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids. Generally, three equivalents of DCC and 0.5 equivalent of proton source in DMSO are allowed to react overnight at room temperature. The reaction is quenched with acid.

Other reactions

• Reaction of an acid with hydrogen peroxide in presence of DCC leads to formation of peroxide linkage.
• Alcohols can also be dehydrated using DCC. This reaction proceeds by first giving the O-acylurea intermediate which is then hydrogenolyzed to produce the corresponding alkene:

RCHOHCH2R' + C₆H₁₁N)₂C → RCH=CHR' + (C₆H₁₁NH)₂CO

• Secondary alcohols can be stereochemically inverted by formation of a formyl ester followed by saponification. The secondary alcohol is mixed directly with DCC, formic acid, and a strong base such as sodium methoxide.

Biological action

DCC is a classical inhibitor of ATP synthase.[8] DCC inhibits ATP synthase by binding to one of the c subunits and causing steric hindrance of the rotation of the F_O subunit.[9]

Safety

DCC is a potent allergen and a sensitizer, often causing skin rashes.[1]

See also

• Carbodiimide

References

1. Jeffrey S. Albert, Andrew D. Hamilton, Amy C. Hart, Xiaoming Feng, Lili Lin, Zhen Wang (2017). "1,3‐Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide". EEROS: 1–9. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rd146.pub3. ISBN 9780470842898.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
2. Tang, J.; Mohan, T.; Verkade, J. G. (1994). "Selective and Efficient Syntheses of Perhydro-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triones and Carbodiimides from Isocyanates Using ZP(MeNCH₂CH₂)₃N Catalysts". Journal of Organic Chemistry. 59 (17): 4931–4938. doi:10.1021/jo00096a041.
3. Yavari, I.; Roberts, J. D. (1978). "Nitrogen-15 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Carbodiimides" (PDF). Journal of Organic Chemistry. 43 (25): 4689–4690. doi:10.1021/jo00419a001.
4. Pri-Bar, I.; Schwartz, J. (1997). "N,N-Dialkylcarbodiimide Synthesis by Palladium-Catalysed Coupling of Amines with Isonitriles". Chemical Communications. 1997 (4): 347–348. doi:10.1039/a606012i.
5. Jászay, Z. M.; Petneházy, I.; Töke, L.; Szajáni, B. (1987). "Preparation of Carbodiimides Using Phase-Transfer Catalysis". Synthesis. 1987 (5): 520–523. doi:10.1055/s-1987-27992.
6. Neises, B.; Steglich, W. (1985). "Esterification of Carboxylic Acids with Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide/4-Dimethylaminopyridine: Tert-Butyl Ethyl Fumarate". Organic Syntheses. 63: 183. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.063.0183.
7. John G. Moffatt (1967). "Cholane-24-al". Org. Synth. 47: 25. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.047.0025.
8. Hong S, Pedersen PL. (2008). "ATP synthase and the actions of inhibitors utilized to study its roles in human health, disease, and other scientific areas". Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 72 (4): 590–641. doi:10.1128/MMBR.00016-08. PMC 2593570. PMID 19052322.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
9. Toei M, Noji H. (2013). "Single-molecule analysis of F₀F₁-ATP synthase inhibited by N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide". J Biol Chem. 288 (36): 25717–26. doi:10.1074/jbc.M113.482455. PMC 3764779. PMID 23893417.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)

External links

• An excellent illustration of this mechanism can be found here: .