1,8-Diazabicyclodonidene (DBU): Highly efficient catalyst selection for low VOC emissions

admin 3月 13th, 2025 News

1.8-Diazabicycloundeene (DBU): “Star Player” in the Catalyst

In the world of chemical reactions, catalysts are like an unknown director. They do not directly participate in the performance, but can make the entire stage more exciting. The protagonist we are going to introduce today – 1,8-diazabicycloundecene (DBU), is one of the highly anticipated “star players”. DBU not only won the favor of scientists for its excellent catalytic performance, but also became the darling in the field of low volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions due to its environmentally friendly properties. So, what is the excellence of this “star player”? Let us unveil its mystery together.

1. Basic information of DBU

1,8-diazabicycloundeene (1,8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, referred to as DBU), is a highly basic organic compound. Its molecular formula is C7H12N2 and its molecular weight is 124.18 g/mol. DBU has a unique bicyclic structure that imparts it excellent alkalinity and stability, making it perform well in a variety of chemical reactions.

Parameters	Value
Molecular formula	C7H12N2
Molecular Weight	124.18 g/mol
Density	0.96 g/cm³
Melting point	-12 °C
Boiling point	235 °C
Appearance	White to light yellow liquid

From the table above, it can be seen that DBU is a liquid with low melting point and high boiling point, which makes it have good operability and stability in industrial applications. At the same time, its white to light yellow appearance also shows that it has a high purity and is suitable for use in reaction systems with strict requirements on impurities.

2. Chemical properties of DBU

DBU is a significant feature of its extremely high alkalinity. As one of the strong organic bases, the pKa value of DBU is as high as 18.2, which is much higher than the common sodium hydroxide (NaOH, pKa?13.8). This super powerfulBasicity enables it to effectively promote proton transfer reactions, thereby accelerating the progress of many chemical reactions. In addition, DBU also has the following chemical properties:

High selectivity: DBU can accurately identify target molecules in complex reaction systems to avoid side reactions.
Thermal Stability: DBU can maintain its structural and functional integrity even under high temperature conditions.
Easy to Recyclability: Due to its low solubility and high stability, DBU can be recycled and reused through simple separation steps.

These characteristics make DBU an ideal catalyst and are widely used in polymer synthesis, esterification, dehydration and other fields.

III. Application areas of DBU

1. Catalysts in polymer synthesis

In the polymer industry, DBU is widely used as an epoxy resin curing agent. By catalyzing the ring-opening reaction of epoxy groups with amine substances, DBU can significantly improve the cross-linking density and mechanical properties of epoxy resins. For example, when preparing high-performance coatings, using DBU as a catalyst not only shortens the curing time, but also reduces the emission of VOC, thus meeting the requirements of modern environmental regulations.

2. Catalysts in Esterification Reaction

Esterification reaction is an extremely important step in chemical production, and DBU is particularly outstanding in this process. It can effectively promote the esterification reaction between carboxylic acid and alcohol, reduce the generation of by-products, and improve the selectivity and conversion rate of the reaction. This efficient catalytic capability has enabled DBU to be widely used in the production of food additives, fragrances and pharmaceutical intermediates.

3. Catalysts in Dehydration Reaction

In certain organic synthesis reactions, dehydration is a critical step. DBU can significantly improve the reaction efficiency by absorbing moisture in the reaction system. For example, when preparing ketones, DBU can help eliminate moisture interference during the reaction, thereby ensuring smooth progress of the reaction.

IV. The relationship between DBU and low VOC emissions

With global awareness of environmental protection, low VOC emissions have become an important trend in the chemical industry. As a green catalyst, DBU is just in line with this development direction. Compared with other traditional catalysts, DBU has the following advantages:

Low Volatility: The boiling point of DBU is as high as 235°C, which means that it will hardly evaporate at room temperature, so it can effectively reduce VOC emissions.
High activity: The high catalytic activity of DBU can significantly shorten the reaction time, thereby reducing the amount of solvent used, and indirectly reducing the production of VOC.
Recyclability: Through simple separation and purification steps, DBU can be reused multiple times, further reducing resource waste and environmental pollution.

According to research data from domestic and foreign literature, process schemes using DBU as catalysts can usually reduce VOC emissions by more than 50%. This achievement not only brings economic benefits to enterprises, but also creates greater environmental value for society.

V. Future development prospects of DBU

Although DBU has achieved many achievements, scientists are still exploring its new application scenarios and development directions. For example, in recent years, studies have shown that DBU also shows great potential in photocatalytic and electrochemical reactions. In the future, with the rapid development of emerging fields such as nanotechnology and green chemistry, DBU is expected to play an important role in more fields.

Potential Application Areas	Research Progress
Photocatalytic reaction	It has been successfully used for the experiment of decomposing water to produce hydrogen
Electrochemical reaction	Preliminary verification can be used for lithium-ion battery electrolyte modification
Biocatalytic reaction	It is exploring its possibility in enzymatic reactions

VI. Conclusion

In summary, 1,8-diazabicyclodonene (DBU) is an excellent performance and environmentally friendly catalyst. It not only plays an important role in the traditional chemical industry, but also provides unlimited possibilities for the future development of green chemistry. As a proverb says: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” The story of DBU has just begun. Let us wait and see and look forward to it writing more brilliant chapters in the future!