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Ethylenediamine is an organic compound used in drugs, industry, and medical applications. It is produced by mixing 1,2-dichloroethane with ammonia and water. It is used in some topical steroid creams and as a precursor to EDTA, a compound used in chelation therapy. However, exposure to even low levels can cause reproductive defects, and chelation therapy should only be performed by a qualified physician.
Ethylenediamine, also known as 1,2-diaminoethane, is a pharmacologically inactive organic compound used in various drugs. It is also used in industry as a solvent, corrosion inhibitor, and precursor to bleaching agents, as well as in the manufacture of polyurethane fibers and the dendrimers used in drug delivery. In the form of ethylenediamine dihydroiodide, it also serves as a nutrient additive in some cattle feeds. Although research indicates that it is a topical irritant, this compound continues to be used as a stabilizer in some topical steroid medications.
The industrial production of ethylenediamine is relatively simple. When 1,2-dichloroethane is mixed with ammonia and water and subjected to heat and pressure, it forms a salt as the amine mixes with free hydrochloric acid. The addition of sodium hydroxide releases the amine, which can be isolated by rectification. This process is usually done on a large scale, as large quantities of ethylenediamine are used industrially each year.
There are also many medical applications for this chemical. It is used in the production of various antihistamine and antifungal drugs as well as medical latex applications. Ethylenediamine is used in some topical steroid creams, although it has been removed from creams sold in some countries, such as the United States and Canada, because it has been found to cause skin irritation.
This chemical has also been used to improve the solubility of the bronchiodilator diuretic and cardiac stimulant theophylline. Theophylline is the caffeine-like member of the methylxanthine chemical family found in tea leaves. Known as aminophylline, this proprietary formulation of theophylline and ethylenediamine has also been studied as a topical cream to reduce fat deposits.
Ethylenediamine is also the direct chemical precursor of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), a compound used to remove toxic heavy metals such as lead and mercury from the body. This process, known as chelation therapy, can also be used to remove excess iron from the bloodstream. Vitamin C, vitamin E and calcium are also removed from the body during chelation therapy, suggesting that nutritional supplements can be used for the duration of the therapy. However, exposure to even relatively low therapeutic levels of this compound is known to cause reproductive defects in animal studies. Since the intravenous use of EDTA for chelation has resulted in the death of some patients, it is of paramount importance that it is performed by a qualified physician.
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