HMPA is the oxide of tris(dimethylamino)phosphine, P(NMe2)3. Like other phosphine oxides (such as triphenylphosphine oxide), the molecule has a tetrahedral core and a P=O bond that is highly polarized, with significant negative charge residing on the oxygen atom.
Compounds containing a nitrogen–phosphorus bond typically are degraded by hydrochloric acid to form a protonated amine and phosphate.
It dissolves alkali metal salts[6] and alkali metals, forming blue solutions which are stable for a few hours. Solvated electrons are present in these blue solutions.[7]
HMPA is a ligand in the useful reagents based on molybdenumperoxide complexes, for example, MoO(O2)2(HMPA)(H2O) is used as an oxidant in organic synthesis.[9]
Alternative reagents
Dimethyl sulfoxide can often be used in place of HMPA as a cosolvent. Both are strong hydrogen bond acceptors, and their oxygen atoms bind metal cations. Other alternatives to HMPA include the N,N′-tetraalkylureas DMPU (dimethylpropyleneurea)[10][11] or DMI (1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone).[12] Tripyrrolidinophosphoric acid triamide (TPPA) has been reported to be a good substitute reagent for HMPA in reductions with samarium diiodide[13] and as a Lewis base additive to many reactions involving samariumketyls.[14]
Toxicity
HMPA is only mildly toxic but has been shown to cause cancer in rats.[8] HMPA can be degraded by the action of hydrochloric acid.
^Luehrs, Dean C.; Kohut, John P. (1974). "Hexamethylphosphoramide solvates of alkali metal salts". Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry. 36 (7): 1459–1460. doi:10.1016/0022-1902(74)80605-6.
^Gremmo, Norberto; Randles, John E. B. (1974). "Solvated electrons in hexamethylphosphoramide. Part 1.—Conductivity of solutions of alkali metals". Journal of the Chemical Society, Faraday Transactions 1: Physical Chemistry in Condensed Phases. 70: 1480–1487. doi:10.1039/F19747001480.
^ abDykstra, R. R. (2001). "Hexamethylphosphoric Triamide". Hexamethylphosphoric Triamide. Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rh020. ISBN978-0471936237.
^Dickman, Michael H.; Pope, Michael T. (1994). "Peroxo and Superoxo Complexes of Chromium, Molybdenum, and Tungsten". Chemical Reviews. 94 (3): 569–584. doi:10.1021/cr00027a002.
^Beck, A. K.; Seebach, D. (2001). "N,N′-Dimethylpropyleneurea". N,N′-Dimethylpropyleneurea. Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. New York: John Wiley & Sons. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rd366. ISBN978-0471936237.
^Lo, Chi-Chu; Chao, Pei-Min (1990). "Replacement of carcinogenic solvent HMPA by DMI in insect sex pheromone synthesis". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 16 (12): 3245–3253. doi:10.1007/BF00982095. PMID24263426. S2CID9859086.
^McDonald, Chriss E.; Ramsey, Jeremy D.; Sampsell, David G.; Butler, Julie A.; Cecchini, Michael R. (2010). "Tripyrrolidinophosphoric Acid Triamide as an Activator in Samarium Diiodide Reductions". Organic Letters. 12 (22): 5178–5181. doi:10.1021/ol102040s. PMID20979412.
^Berndt, Mathias; Hölemann, Alexandra; Niermann, André; Bentz, Christoph; Zimmer, Reinhold; Reissig, Hans-Ulrich (2012). "Replacement of HMPA in Samarium Diiodide Promoted Cyclizations and Reactions of Organolithium Compounds". European Journal of Organic Chemistry. 2012 (7): 1299–1302. doi:10.1002/ejoc.201101830. ISSN1099-0690. Tripyrrolidinophosphoric acid triamide (TPPA) can replace carcinogenic HMPA as a Lewis basic additive in many reactions involving samarium ketyls. In most cases, yields and selectivities of cyclizations of (het)aryl, alkenyl, and alkynyl ketones are similar.
"Hexamethyl phosphoramide". NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services. 2011.