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Tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene: identification of impurities and compatibility with common metal, polymer, and ceramic laboratory materials

Journal Article · · Anal. Chem.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00170a022· OSTI ID:6661565

Analytical procedures were developed that use gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy techniques to determine the purity of commercially available and purified liquid and gaseous tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TMAE). More than 20 components were detected; most were identified from their mass spectral fragmentation patterns. The six major TMAE impurities were dimethylamine, tetramethylhydrazine, bis(dimethylamino)methane, dimethylformamide, tetramethylurea, and tetramethyloxamide. The major impurities accounted for greater than 99.5 area % of all impurity components detected. Electron capture analysis of the major TMAE impurities suggested that tetramethyloxamide and tetramethylurea have relative high electron capture cross sections compared with oxygen. Liquid TMAE was observed to be generally compatible (less than 1% decomposition) with 24 commonly used metal, polymer, and ceramic laboratory materials. In some cases, however, low concentrations of products were generated that had a high affinity for electron capture. Materials that formed statistically significant amounts of these products were identified. A technique was developed that uses gas chromatography to measure the major TMAE impurities in a gas flow stream containing TMAE vapor.

Research Organization:
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00515
OSTI ID:
6661565
Journal Information:
Anal. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: Anal. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 60:19; ISSN ANCHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English