Oxamide

Not to be confused with Oxanamide.

Oxamide

Oxamide Oxamide
Names
IUPAC name Ethanediamide
Other names Oxamide Oxalamide Oxamimidic acid Diaminoglyoxal Oxalic acid diamide 1-Carbamoyl-formimidic acid
Identifiers
CAS Number	471-46-5 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:48248 N
ChemSpider	9709 N
EC Number	207-442-5
Jmol 3D model	Interactive image
PubChem	10113
InChI InChI=1S/C2H4N2O2/c3-1(5)2(4)6/h(H2,3,5)(H2,4,6) N Key: YIKSCQDJHCMVMK-UHFFFAOYSA-N N InChI=1/C2H4N2O2/c3-1(5)2(4)6/h(H2,3,5)(H2,4,6) Key: YIKSCQDJHCMVMK-UHFFFAOYAL
SMILES NC(=O)C(N)=O
Properties
Chemical formula	C2H4N2O2
Molar mass	88.0654 g/mol
Appearance	White powder
Density	1.667 g/cm3
Solubility in water	Soluble
Solubility	ethanol
Vapor pressure	{{{value}}}
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Oxamide is the organic compound with the formula (CONH₂)₂. This white crystalline solid is soluble in ethanol, slightly soluble in water and insoluble in diethyl ether. Oxamide is the diamide derived from oxalic acid.

Preparation

Oxamide is produced from hydrogen cyanide, which is oxidized to cyanogen, which is then hydrolyzed.

Prepd from formamide by glow-discharge electrolysis: Brown et al.

Application

The main application is as a substitute for urea in fertilizers. Oxamide hydrolyzes (releases ammonia) very slowly, which is sometimes preferred vs the quick release by urea.

It is used as a stabilizer for nitrocellulose preparations. It also finds use in APCP rocket motors as a high performance burn rate suppressant. The use of oxamide in concentrations of 1-3 wt% has shown to slow the linear burn rate while having minimal impact on propellant specific impulse.

Reactions

Upon heating above 350 °C, it decomposes to cyanogen and water. Oxamide derivatives form self-assembled monolayers consisting of a hydrogen bonded network.