Diglycolic acid is an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, its acidity is between the one of acetic acid and oxalic acid.[1] It is formed in the oxidation of diethylene glycol in the body and can lead to severe complications with fatal outcome.[2]

Diglycolic acid
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
2,2′-Oxydiacetic acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.003.476 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 203-823-5
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C4H6O5/c5-3(6)1-9-2-4(7)8/h1-2H2,(H,5,6)(H,7,8) ☒N
    Key: QEVGZEDELICMKH-UHFFFAOYSA-N ☒N
  • InChI=1/C4H6O5/c5-3(6)1-9-2-4(7)8/h1-2H2,(H,5,6)(H,7,8)
    Key: QEVGZEDELICMKH-UHFFFAOYAA
  • C(C(=O)O)OCC(=O)O
Properties
C4H6O5
Molar mass 134.09 g/mol
Melting point 140-144°C
Acidity (pKa) 2.79, 3.93 (20°C)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Preparation

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Oxidation of diethylene glycol with concentrated nitric acid was described by A. Wurtz in 1861[3]

 

In parallel, W. Heintz reported the synthesis of diglycolic acid from chloroacetic acid by heating with sodium hydroxide solution.[4]

 

In a version with barium hydroxide solution as an alkaline medium, diglycolic acid is obtained in 68% yield after acidification.[5]

The yields of the described reactions are unsatisfactory for use on a technical scale.

The single-stage nitric acid process gives even in the presence of an oxidation catalyst (vanadium(V)oxide) yields of only 58-60%.[6] In a multi-stage process of nitric acid oxidation at 70 °C and multiple crystallization steps, evaporation of the residues and return of the diethylene glycol-containing mother liquor, product yields of up to 99% (based on diethylene glycol) can be achieved.[7]

The oxidation of diethylene glycol with air, oxygen or ozone avoids the use of expensive nitric acid and prevents the inevitable formation of nitrous gases.[8] In the presence of a platinum catalyst, yields of 90% can be obtained by air oxidation.[9]

On a bismuth platinum contact catalyst, yields of 95% are to be achieved under optimized reaction conditions.[10]

The oxidation of 1,4-dioxan-2-one (p-dioxanone, a lactone which is used as a comonomer in biodegradable polyesters with nitric acid or dinitrogen tetroxide) is also described with yields of up to 75%.[11]

 
Diglycolsäuresynthese aus 1,4-Dioxan-2-on

Properties

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Diglycolic acid is readily water-soluble and crystallizes from water in monoclinic prisms as a white, odorless solid. At an air humidity of more than 72% and 25 °C, the monohydrate is formed. The commercial product is the anhydrous form as free-flowing flakes.[12]

Application

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Diesters of diglycolic acid with (branched) higher alcohols can be used as softeners for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with comparable properties as di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP).[13]

Basic solutions of diglycolic acid are described for the removal of limescale deposits in gas and oil bores, as well as in systems such as heat exchangers or steam boilers.[14]

Diglycolic acid can be used as a diester component in homo- and copolymeric polyesters (so-called polyalkylene diglycolates) which are biocompatible and biodegradable and can be used alone or in blends with aliphatic polyesters as tissue adhesives, cartilage substitutes or as implant materials:[15]

 
Vernetzte Polyalkylenglycolate

References

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  1. ^ L. Bhattacharyya, J. Rohrer, ed. (2012), Appendix 1: DISSOCIATION CONSTANTS (pKa) OF ORGANIC ACIDS (AT 20 °C), in Applications of Ion Chromatography for Pharmaceutical and Biological Products, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., doi:10.1002/9781118147009.app1
  2. ^ A.A. Roscher, E. Jussek, T. Noguchi, S. Franklin (1975), "Fatal Accidental Diglycolic Acid Intoxication" (PDF), Bull. Soc. Pharm. Environ. Pathol., vol. III, no. 4, archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-06-29, retrieved 2017-02-04{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ A. Wurtz (1861), "Umwandlung des Aethylens zu complicirten organischen Säuren", Liebigs Ann. Chem. (in German), vol. 117, no. 1, pp. 136–140, doi:10.1002/jlac.18611170114
  4. ^ W. Heintz (1862), "Ueber die Diglycolsäure (Paraäpfelsäure)", Ann. Phys. (in German), vol. 191, no. 2, pp. 280–295, doi:10.1002/andp.18621910206
  5. ^ K.E. Füger (1959), Synthese und katalytische Reduktion von Glykolsäure und Glykolsäureestern, Promotionsarbeit ETH Zürich (PDF) (in German), Juris-Verlag
  6. ^ C. Erk (1991), "Condensation of diglycolic acid dichloride with polyglycols, 5. An improved synthesis of cyclic polyether-esters by cyclization", Liebigs Ann. Chem., vol. 1991, no. 10, pp. 1083–1084, doi:10.1002/jlac.1991199101186
  7. ^ US 4066691, M. Schröder, "Process for the production of pure diglycolic acid by oxidation if diethylene glycol with nitric acid", published 1978-1-3, assigned to Chemische Werke Hüls AG 
  8. ^ US 3879452, G.E. Brown, Jr., "Method for making diglycolic acid, dipropionic acid and the salts there f", published 1975-4-22, assigned to Conen Corp. 
  9. ^ US 4256916, D.L. Morris, W.J. Gammans, J.D. Holmes, "Oxidation of polyethylene glycols to dicarboxylic acids", published 1981-3-17, assigned to Eastman Kodak Co. 
  10. ^ Y-Y. Zhang, Z.-Y. Liang, Y.-D. Zhang (May 2012), "Preparation of Diglycolic Acid via Oxidation of Diethylene Glycol with Molecular Oxygen", Fine Chemicals{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ US 3952054, C.Y. Shen, "Process for preparing diglycolic acid", published 1976-4-20, assigned to Monsanto Co. 
  12. ^ W.M. Bruner, L.T. Sherwood, Jr. (1949), "Diglycolic acid – a new commercial dibasic acid", Ind. Eng. Chem., vol. 41, no. 8, pp. 1653–1656, doi:10.1021/ie50476a032{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ US 3173888, P.T. von Bramer, R.M. Simons, "Diesters of diglycolic acid and vinyl chloride polymers plastized therewith", published 1965-3-16, assigned to Eastman Kodak Co. 
  14. ^ US 3639279, T.R. Gardner, R.M. Lasater, J.A. Knox, "Scale removal composition and method using salt of diglycolic acid and base at pH above 5", published 1972-2-1, assigned to Halliburton Co. 
  15. ^ US 5696178, K. Cooper, A. Scopelianos, "Absorbable polyalkylene diglycolates", published 1997-12-9, assigned to Ethicon, Inc.