When referred Hexamine, I believe many people must be familiar with the name of it. As one of the primary drugs for treating urinary tract infections, its extensiveness and practicality are fully recognized by people. However, methenamine is not only used for urinary tract infections, but also plays a vital role in chemical synthesis and chemical analysis. Next, let me introduce this magical organic compound methenamine!

  Hexamine was discovered by Russian chemist Butlelov in 1859. Over the long years, the effects of hexamethylenetetramine have gradually been discovered and widely used.

  Hexamethylenetetramine, also konwn as "Hexamine", is a polycyclic heterocyclic compound with a similar structure to adamantane, with a molecular formula of C6H12N4. Hexamethylenetetramine is a white crystal that can be prepared by the reaction of formaldehyde and ammonia. The molecule contains four mutually fused triazacyclohexane rings. It is limitedly soluble in water and easily soluble in most organic solvents. Hexamine has a wide range of applications. It can be used as a raw material for organic synthesis, analytical chemical reagents, antibiotics, and fuels, and has many uses in chemical production. Hexamine reacts with fuming nitric acid to produce a highly explosive "cyclonic explosive" RDX. 

  Its uses are roughly as follows:

1. Hexamine is mainly used as a curing agent for resins and plastics, a catalyst and foaming agent for amino plastics, an accelerator for rubber vulcanization (accelerator H), and an anti-shrinkage agent for textiles.

2. Hexamine is a raw material for organic synthesis used to produce chloram phenicol in the pharmaceutical industry.

3. Hexamine can be used as a disinfectant for the urinary system. It has no antibacterial effect itself and is effective against Gram-negative bacteria. Its 20% solution can be used to treat underarm odor, sweaty feet, tinea corporis, etc. It can be mixed with sodium hydroxide and sodium phenol to be used as a phosgene absorbent in gas masks.

4. Used to make pesticides and insecticides. Hexamine reacts with fuming nitric acid to produce highly explosive cyclone explosives, referred to as RDX.

5. Hexamine can also be used as a reagent for the determination of bismuth, indium, manganese, cobalt, thorium, platinum, magnesium, lithium, copper, uranium, beryllium, tellurium, bromide, iodide, etc. and a chromatographic analysis reagent.

6. It is a commonly used military fuel.

7. It is used as a curing agent for resins and plastics, a vulcanization accelerator for rubber (accelerator H), a shrink-proof agent for textiles, and is used to make bactericides, explosives, etc. When used as medicine, it decomposes into formaldehyde when it encounters acidic urine after oral administration and has a bactericidal effect. It is used for mild urinary tract infections; it is used externally to treat ringworm, antiperspirants, and axillary odor. It is mixed with caustic soda and sodium phenol and used as a phosgene absorbent in gas masks. Of course, as a reactant, hexamine is still used in chemical synthesis and chemical analysis.

  As an amine compound, its toxicity cannot be underestimated. Under production conditions, it mainly causes dermatitis and eczema. The rash is mostly polymorphic and itchy. It is initially limited to the contact site, but can spread later and even spread throughout the body. If relevant hazards occur, emergency treatment should be carried out according to the corresponding methods in the following situations.

Skin contact: Take off contaminated clothes and rinse the skin thoroughly with soap and water.

Eye contact: Lift the eyelids and rinse with running water or saline. Seek medical attention.

Inhalation: Quickly leave the scene to a place with fresh air. Keep the airway open. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. If breathing stops, perform artificial respiration immediately. Seek medical attention. Ingestion: Drink enough warm water and induce vomiting. Seek medical attention.

  If a large-scale hexamine leak occurs, emergency treatment for leaks: Isolate the leaked contaminated area and restrict access. Cut off the source of fire. It is recommended that emergency personnel wear dust masks (full-face masks) and protective clothing. Do not directly contact the leaked material. Small leaks: Collect with a clean shovel in a dry, clean, covered container. Large leaks: Cover with plastic sheeting or canvas. Use spark-free tools to collect and recycle or transport to a waste disposal site for disposal.

  Well, that’s all for today’s introduction to methenamine. Do you have a good understanding of this common compound? By the way, when using methenamine as medicine, it must not be used together with aspirin, otherwise it will cause severe allergic reactions, which can be life-threatening in severe cases.