Chemical Name: 1,1'-Carbonyldiimidazole
CAS Number: 530-62-1
Common Uses: Many researchers recognize this compound as a reagent that pushes reactions forward in peptide synthesis and coupling processes. This makes it a familiar face in chemical synthesis environments, particularly for those working on pharmaceuticals or advanced materials.
Hazard Class: 1,1'-Carbonyldiimidazole often appears as a hazardous solid, bringing with it risks related to skin irritation, eye irritation, and possible respiratory issues upon inhalation. Labels usually flag it with warnings for severe eye damage and respiratory tract irritation. For anyone with asthma or allergies, exposure becomes a bigger risk; dust or powder can trigger sneezing, coughing, and throat discomfort in short order.
GHS Pictograms: Exclamation mark for irritant properties.
Possible Health Effects: This compound may cause serious eye irritation or damage, skin irritation, and respiratory irritation. Direct contact gets uncomfortable fast, prompting redness, pain, and tearing. Inhalation often causes coughing or a scratchy feeling in the nose and throat.
Main Ingredient: 1,1'-Carbonyldiimidazole
Purity: Laboratory-grade samples regularly reach purity above 98%. Trace impurities rarely show up in a well-managed lab or storage area, but anyone handling bulk chemicals should double-check for moisture, which causes hydrolysis and degrades quality.
Inhalation: Move to fresh air; seek medical advice if symptoms go beyond mild discomfort.
Skin Contact: Rinse thoroughly with soap and water; remove contaminated clothing. Persistent irritation points to the need for professional medical help.
Eye Contact: Flush with water for at least fifteen minutes; anyone who wears lenses must take them out if it’s safe. Medical attention becomes important if irritation does not let up.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, do not induce vomiting. Most instructions advise seeing a doctor quickly due to the potential for chemical burns or gastrointestinal injury.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, dry chemical, foam, or carbon dioxide all come up as choices for containing small fires. Most labs opt for CO2 or dry chemical extinguishers.
Unusual Fire Hazards: Byproducts like nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, and irritating fumes can form when burning, so responders benefit from proper respiratory protection.
Protective Equipment: Firefighters should wear full-body protection, with a multipurpose respirator if smoke gets heavy.
Personal Precautions: Laboratory staff should use gloves, goggles, and dust masks. Keeping sources of ignition at bay and working in a well-ventilated space lowers the risk.
Environmental Precautions: Don’t flush down household or regular drains. Instead, contain the spill with absorbent materials and move contaminated media to well-labeled chemical waste bins.
Cleanup Methods: Collect spill mechanically or with absorbents. Rinse residue with copious water only if safe to do so.
Safe Handling: Anyone handling the material should avoid contact with skin, eyes, and clothing. Dust formation, abrupt opening of containers, or working outside of a fume hood makes exposure more likely.
Storage Conditions: This solid doesn’t play well with moisture, acids, or open air. Use sealed containers, stash in cool and dry places, and avoid contact with water, which degrades the compound and reduces usability quickly. Separate from strong acids or bases.
Special Considerations: Good ventilation helps, as does clear labeling. Experienced chemists train new colleagues on the importance of always wearing gloves and never leaving containers uncapped.
Engineering Controls: Lab workers rely on fume hoods or local exhaust to keep dust and vapor from spreading.
Personal Protection: Gloves, safety goggles, and a lab coat form the basic armor. Nitrile gloves handle organic solids well. Where dust floats in the air, N95 or equivalent masks make sense.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands after handling and before meals. Eating, drinking, or smoking around sensitive compounds never ends well.
Appearance: White or off-white crystalline solid.
Odor: Slightly pungent, chemical-like smell.
Molecular Formula: C7H6N4O
Molecular Weight: About 162.15 g/mol.
Melting Point: Around 117–123°C
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Solubility: Hydrolyzes in water, soluble in organic solvents like acetonitrile and dichloromethane.
Stability: Decomposes in contact with water.
Reactivity: 1,1'-Carbonyldiimidazole reacts sharply with water, acids, and bases. Hydrolysis releases imidazole and carbon dioxide.
Stable Under: Dry, airtight conditions. Avoid humidity.
Hazardous Byproducts: Nitrogen and carbon oxides show up under heat or fire. Moisture exposure leads to degradation products.
Incompatible Materials: Strong oxidizers, acids, and bases.
Acute Toxicity: Evidence points to skin and eye irritation as the biggest short-term hazards. Dust or vapors cause respiratory irritation, particularly to individuals with pre-existing lung issues.
Chronic Effects: Prolonged exposure risks persistent dermatitis or respiratory discomfort in sensitive individuals.
Route of Exposure: Skin contact, eye contact, or inhalation. Ingestion risks gastrointestinal distress, though less likely in well-managed environments.
Symptoms: Redness, pain, tearing, coughing, sore throat, or mild burns may develop.
Aquatic Toxicity: This compound should not end up in natural waterways. Laboratory and industry guidelines direct disposal into contained waste streams for treatment. No evidence points to serious bioaccumulation, yet hydrolysis produces imidazole, which can alter water chemistry.
Persistence and Degradability: Hydrolyzes quickly in water, forming more benign byproducts.
Precaution: Local authorities sometimes regulate disposal pathways to keep aquatic life safe.
Disposal Methods: Offload contaminated solids or liquids as chemical waste. Use incineration or treatment facilities licensed for hazardous organic compounds.
Regulatory Controls: National and local regulations apply to chemical waste; following university or institutional guidelines minimizes accidental release.
UN Number: Guidance generally treats this substance as hazardous cargo.
Packaging: Leakproof and airtight containers, lined if possible. Package labeling should highlight irritant danger.
Transport Precautions: Protect containers from damp conditions, rough handling, and temperature swings.
Workplace Controls: Many jurisdictions call for clear labeling, staff awareness training, and up-to-date risk assessments.
Regulatory Status: Monitored by workplace safety agencies for handling, labeling, and storage requirements; chemical hygiene plans in labs and factories call for documentation about this reagent and its hazards.
Guidance: Institutions and chemical suppliers often have detailed procedures to ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental rules. Regular safety audits check that control measures are in place and functioning.