Aminoguanidine

Aminoguanidine
Skeletal formula of a pimagedine	Spacefill model of a pimagedine
Names
	IUPAC name 2-Aminoguanidine
	Other names Aminoguanidine; Guanyl hydrazine; Hydrazinecarboximidamide; Imino semicarbazide; Monoaminoguanidine; Pimagedine;
Identifiers
CAS Number	79-17-4 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL225304 ;
ChemSpider	2061 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.001.076
IUPHAR/BPS	5135;
KEGG	D05479;
PubChem CID	2146;
UNII	SCQ4EZQ113 ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID5040964 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/CH6N4/c2-1(3)5-4/h1,4H,2-3H2 Key: DRCHNMARIZRTKI-UHFFFAOYSA-N ;
	SMILES NC(N)N=N;
Properties
Chemical formula	CH6N4
Molar mass	74.087 g·mol−1
Appearance	Crystals
Density	1.72 g/cm3
Melting point	206 °C (403 °F; 479 K) Decomposes
Solubility in water	Very soluble
Solubility in Ethanol	Very soluble
Related compounds
Related compounds	5-Aminotetrazole; Guanidine; Nitroguanidine;
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Aminoguanidine is the chemical compound with the formula NH₂C(=NH)NHNH₂. It is a versatile synthetic intermediate.^[3]

Aminoguanidine was studied as an investigational drug for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy, under the nonproprietary name Pimagedine, but never left the clinical trial phase due to side effects.^[4]

Chemistry

Synthesis

The industrial synthesis uses the reaction between cyanamide and hydrazine in aqueous solution.^[3]

The compound can also be obtained from the reduction of nitroguanidine with zinc in acetic acid.^[2]

Properties

Aminoguanidine is a colorless solid that is soluble in water and ethanol. It is basic, producing salts when reacted with organic acids. As established by many crystallographic studies, protonation of aminoguanidine occurs at the imino nitrogen.^[5]^{[additional citation(s) needed]}

With formic acid, condensation occurs, leading to cyclization to give 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole.^[3]

The compound reacts with nitrous acid in acidic medium to give 5-aminotetrazole via the intermediate guanylazide.^[3]

At neutral pH, the reaction leads to tetrazene.^[6] Diazotization in acetic acid yields 1,3-di-(tetrazolyl)-triazene.^[3]

Investigational drug

Pimagedine was investigated as a drug for kidney disease by the pharmaceutical company Alteon, but safety issues that appeared during clinical trials ended development before it was marketed and financial support was dropped for further trials.^[7]^[4]

References

↑ Haynes, William M., ed. (2016). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (97th ed.). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. pp. 3–302. ISBN 9781498754293.
1 2 Smith, G. B. L.; Anzelmi, Edward (1935-12-01). "Reduction of Nitroguanidine. III. Synthesis of Aminoguanidine". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 57 (12): 2730. Bibcode:1935JAChS..57.2730S. doi:10.1021/ja01315a510. ISSN 0002-7863.
1 2 3 4 5 Güthner, Thomas; Mertschenk, Bernd; Schulz, Bernd (2006). "Guanidine and Derivatives". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a12_545.pub2. ISBN 978-3-527-30673-2.
1 2 "Alteon Shares Plummet On Poor Pimagedine Test Results". San Diego Source. 16 November 1998. Archived from the original on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
↑ Adams, J. M. (1977). "The Crystal Structure of Aminoguanidinium Dihydrogen Orthophosphate". Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry. 33 (5): 1513–1515. Bibcode:1977AcCrB..33.1513A. doi:10.1107/S0567740877006402.
↑ Patinkin, Seymour H.; Horwitz, Jerome P.; Lieber, Eugene (1955-02-01). "The Structure of Tetracene1,2". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 77 (3): 562–567. Bibcode:1955JAChS..77..562P. doi:10.1021/ja01608a014. ISSN 0002-7863.
↑ Harry Keen; JH Fukker; G Menzinger (July 19, 1997). "Early closure of European Pimagedine trial". The Lancet. 350 (9072). PlumX Metrics: 214–215. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(97)26029-0. PMID 9250200. S2CID 54316555.

[CRC-1] Haynes, William M., ed. (2016). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (97th ed.). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. pp. 3–302. ISBN 9781498754293.

[JACS_Synth-2] 1 2 Smith, G. B. L.; Anzelmi, Edward (1935-12-01). "Reduction of Nitroguanidine. III. Synthesis of Aminoguanidine". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 57 (12): 2730. Bibcode:1935JAChS..57.2730S. doi:10.1021/ja01315a510. ISSN 0002-7863.

[Ullmann-3] 1 2 3 4 5 Güthner, Thomas; Mertschenk, Bernd; Schulz, Bernd (2006). "Guanidine and Derivatives". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a12_545.pub2. ISBN 978-3-527-30673-2.

[AlteonPimagedine-4] 1 2 "Alteon Shares Plummet On Poor Pimagedine Test Results". San Diego Source. 16 November 1998. Archived from the original on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 14 May 2026.

[5] Adams, J. M. (1977). "The Crystal Structure of Aminoguanidinium Dihydrogen Orthophosphate". Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry. 33 (5): 1513–1515. Bibcode:1977AcCrB..33.1513A. doi:10.1107/S0567740877006402.

[6] Patinkin, Seymour H.; Horwitz, Jerome P.; Lieber, Eugene (1955-02-01). "The Structure of Tetracene1,2". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 77 (3): 562–567. Bibcode:1955JAChS..77..562P. doi:10.1021/ja01608a014. ISSN 0002-7863.

[Lancet-7] Harry Keen; JH Fukker; G Menzinger (July 19, 1997). "Early closure of European Pimagedine trial". The Lancet. 350 (9072). PlumX Metrics: 214–215. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(97)26029-0. PMID 9250200. S2CID 54316555.

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