The reaction of isocyanates with bisulphite salts

Abstract

Aliphatic isocyanates react rapidly and quantitatively with aqueous bi- sulphite solutions to form stable water-soluble adducts which are salts of N-alkyl-carbamyl sulphonio acids. Phenyl isocyanate gives lower yields of the corresponding adduct which is less stable in water. The rate of reaction of n-butyl isocyanate with bisulphite increases with increasing pH and is proportional to [OH-]over the pH range from 5 to 8. The rate of decomposition of the butyl isocyanate-bisulphite adduct increases with increasing temperature and pH. A plot of the logarithm of the initial first-order rate constant for the decomposition of the adduct against pH is linear over the pH range from 2 to 7 and has a slope of 0.57 ± 0.05. Water-insoluble polymers with aliphatic isocyanate groups do not form bisulphite adducts under the conditions which are suitable for simple isocyanates. However, the addition of water-soluble organic solvents such as dioxan and the lower alcohols enables the preparation of water-soluble bisulphite adducts which are indefinitely stable at room temperature and low pH. The relative quantity of the organic solvent must be kept within specific limits which depend on the nature of the prepolymer, the solids content of the final product, and the nature of the organic co-solvent.