Urea hydrochloride

Synthetic Routes and Reaction Conditions: Urea hydrochloride can be synthesized by reacting urea with hydrochloric acid. The reaction is typically carried out in an aqueous solution, where urea is dissolved in water and hydrochloric acid is added gradually. The reaction proceeds as follows:

$$\text{CO(NH}_2\text{)}_2 + \text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{CO(NH}_2\text{)}_2\text{HCl}$$CO(NH2​)2​+HCl→CO(NH2​)2​HCl

Industrial Production Methods: In industrial settings, this compound is produced by mixing urea and hydrochloric acid in large reactors. The reaction is controlled to ensure complete conversion of urea to this compound. The product is then crystallized, filtered, and dried to obtain the final product.

Types of Reactions:

Hydrolysis: this compound undergoes hydrolysis in the presence of water, leading to the formation of ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Decomposition: Upon heating, this compound decomposes to release ammonia and hydrochloric acid.

Substitution: this compound can participate in substitution reactions with various organic compounds, forming substituted urea derivatives.

Common Reagents and Conditions:

Hydrolysis: Water is the primary reagent, and the reaction is typically carried out at room temperature.

Decomposition: Heating is required, usually at temperatures above 100°C.

Substitution: Organic reagents such as amines or alcohols are used, often in the presence of a catalyst.

Major Products Formed:

Hydrolysis: Ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Decomposition: Ammonia and hydrochloric acid.

Substitution: Substituted urea derivatives.

Isolation of Helicobacter pylori

Urea hydrochloride is used effectively in the isolation of Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium linked to gastric ulcers. A study demonstrated that pretreatment with a mixture of 0.06 N hydrochloric acid and 0.08 M urea significantly enhanced the recovery rates of H. pylori from saliva samples. The optimal conditions allowed for reproducible isolation even at low inocula levels (≤10² CFU/ml) .

Table 1: Survival Rates of H. pylori under Various Conditions

This method proved more effective than traditional culture methods, highlighting the utility of this compound in microbiological research.

Moisturizing and Keratolytic Effects

In dermatology, this compound is recognized for its emollient properties and effectiveness as a keratolytic agent. It enhances skin barrier function by increasing water retention in the stratum corneum, making it beneficial for conditions like ichthyosis and psoriasis . Clinical trials have shown that formulations containing urea at concentrations ranging from 10% to 50% significantly improve skin hydration and reduce symptoms of dryness and scaling.

Table 2: Clinical Trials on Urea-Based Formulations

Cleaning Agent for Membranes

This compound has been explored as a cleaning agent for biofouling control in reverse osmosis membrane systems. A pilot-scale study indicated that using urea combined with hydrochloric acid effectively increased the normalized permeate flux compared to conventional cleaning agents .

Table 3: Performance Comparison of Cleaning Agents

This application underscores the potential of this compound in enhancing operational efficiency in water treatment facilities.

Urea hydrochloride exerts its effects through various mechanisms depending on its application. In biological systems, it acts as a denaturant by disrupting hydrogen bonds in proteins and nucleic acids. This leads to the unfolding of these macromolecules, making them more accessible for study or modification. In industrial applications, this compound acts as a catalyst or reactant, facilitating chemical reactions and improving product yields.

Guanidine Hydrochloride (GdnHCl)

GdnHCl (CH₆N₃·HCl) is another widely used denaturant and chaotropic agent. Key differences include:

Example : For β-lactoglobulin, ΔGapp (free energy of unfolding) in water is 11.7 ± 0.8 kcal/mol with urea vs. 3.5 M GdnHCl required for similar destabilization .

Urea

While urea (CH₄N₂O) shares structural similarities with this compound, key differences arise from the absence of HCl:

Example : this compound reduces the hydrophobicity of aliphatic side chains (e.g., Val, Leu) more effectively than urea alone .

Other Hydrochloride Salts

Compounds like Amiloride Hydrochloride (C₆H₈ClN₇O) and Eucatropine Hydrochloride (C₁₇H₂₆ClNO₃) differ in application but share structural features:

Protein Denaturation

• This compound : Preferentially destabilizes α-helical structures in proteins like lysozyme, with ΔGapp = 6.1 ± 0.4 kcal/mol at pH 2.9 .
• GdnHCl : More effective at unfolding β-sheet-rich proteins (e.g., β-lactoglobulin) due to ionic disruption .

Urea hydrochloride is a compound that has garnered attention in various fields, particularly in medicinal chemistry and biochemistry. This article delves into the biological activities associated with this compound, highlighting its applications, mechanisms of action, and relevant case studies.

Overview of this compound

This compound is formed by the reaction of urea with hydrochloric acid, resulting in a white crystalline substance that is soluble in water. It has been used in various medical and biochemical applications due to its ability to interact with proteins and other biological molecules.

This compound exhibits its biological activity primarily through the following mechanisms:

• Hydrogen Bonding : The urea moiety can form multiple stable hydrogen bonds with protein targets, which is crucial for drug-target interactions. This property enhances the bioactivity of compounds containing urea derivatives, making them effective in medicinal applications .
• Protein Stabilization : As a chaotropic agent, urea can disrupt hydrophobic interactions within proteins, leading to denaturation or stabilization depending on the context. This property is leveraged in various biochemical assays and therapeutic applications .
• Antiproliferative Activity : Recent studies have shown that certain urea derivatives possess significant antiproliferative effects against cancer cell lines. For instance, a study identified a novel urea derivative that induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase in colorectal cancer cells .

1. Antiproliferative Effects

A study evaluated several urea derivatives for their antiproliferative activity against various cancer cell lines, including HCT116 (colorectal), A375 (melanoma), and MiaPaca-2 (pancreatic). The findings indicated that:

• Compound 14 demonstrated the highest activity across all tested cancer cell lines.
• The IC50 values for selected compounds were as follows:

  Compound	IC50 (µM)	Cell Line
  13	14	HCT116
  14	9.8	HCT116
  16	12.0	HCT116

These compounds exhibited better antiproliferative activity than cisplatin, indicating their potential as therapeutic agents .

2. Urea Hydrolysis Studies

Research on urea hydrolysis in human urine has shown that urea can be converted into ammonia and bicarbonate through enzymatic reactions. This process is significant in understanding how urea interacts with biological systems:

• In experiments simulating urea hydrolysis, it was observed that approximately 25% of urea was transformed into ammonia over a period of 240 minutes. This transformation is critical for various physiological processes and waste management .

3. Clinical Applications

This compound has been explored for its role in enhancing the isolation of Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium linked to gastric ulcers. A study found that pretreatment with a solution containing this compound significantly improved recovery rates of H. pylori compared to controls:

This suggests that this compound can be effectively utilized in microbiological techniques to isolate specific pathogens .

Basic Research Questions

Q. What are the standard experimental protocols for synthesizing urea hydrochloride with high purity, and how can researchers validate the synthesis process?

• Methodological Answer : this compound synthesis typically involves the reaction of urea with hydrochloric acid under controlled stoichiometric conditions. Researchers should monitor pH and temperature during crystallization to ensure purity . Post-synthesis validation requires techniques like nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for structural confirmation and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to assess purity (>99%) . Titration against standardized base solutions can quantify residual acid impurities .

Q. Which spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques are optimal for characterizing this compound in complex mixtures?

• Methodological Answer : Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) identifies functional groups (e.g., NH and Cl bonds), while X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms crystalline structure . For mixtures, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) can distinguish this compound from co-solvents or degradation products . Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) quantifies thermal stability and phase transitions .

Q. How can researchers assess this compound’s stability under varying pH and temperature conditions?

• Methodological Answer : Accelerated stability studies should be conducted at elevated temperatures (e.g., 40°C, 60°C) and pH ranges (2–12) to simulate degradation pathways. Kinetic modeling (e.g., Arrhenius plots) predicts shelf life, while UV-Vis spectroscopy tracks absorbance changes indicative of decomposition . For hydrolytic stability, monitor chloride ion release via ion-selective electrodes .

Advanced Research Questions

Q. How do researchers resolve contradictions in this compound’s thermodynamic data (e.g., solubility, enthalpy) across studies?

• Methodological Answer : Discrepancies often arise from solvent polarity, ionic strength, or impurities. Systematic replication under controlled conditions (e.g., standardized buffer systems) is critical . Advanced computational models, such as molecular dynamics simulations, can predict solubility parameters and validate experimental data . Meta-analyses of existing literature should account for methodological differences (e.g., calorimetry vs. gravimetric methods) .

Q. What experimental designs minimize interference from this compound’s denaturation effects in protein studies?

• Methodological Answer : this compound’s chaotropic effects can be mitigated by using lower concentrations (<4 M) or combining it with stabilizing agents (e.g., glycerol). Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) or circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy can differentiate between reversible and irreversible protein denaturation . Control experiments with guanidine hydrochloride or thiourea help isolate urea-specific effects .

Q. How can researchers optimize this compound’s role in nucleic acid precipitation without compromising yield or purity?

• Methodological Answer : Ethanol or isopropanol co-precipitation protocols require pH adjustment (e.g., sodium acetate buffer at pH 5.2) to enhance nucleic acid-urea interactions. Quantify RNA/DNA recovery using spectrophotometric A260/A280 ratios and gel electrophoresis. Compare efficiency against traditional chaotropic salts (e.g., guanidinium thiocyanate) to identify trade-offs .

Q. What strategies address conflicting results in this compound’s catalytic efficiency in organic synthesis?

• Methodological Answer : Contradictions may stem from solvent polarity or substrate specificity. Design a factorial experiment varying this compound concentration (0.1–2 M), solvent (aqueous vs. polar aprotic), and temperature. Reaction progress can be tracked via thin-layer chromatography (TLC) or in-situ FTIR. Compare kinetic data (e.g., turnover frequency) with computational density functional theory (DFT) models to identify mechanistic outliers .

Q. Data Analysis and Validation

Q. How should researchers validate this compound’s interaction with metal ions in coordination chemistry studies?

• Methodological Answer : Use isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to quantify binding constants (Kd) and stoichiometry. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) confirms metal-urea complex formation. Control experiments with EDTA or competing ligands (e.g., chloride ions) isolate specific interactions .

Q. What statistical approaches are recommended for analyzing this compound’s dose-response effects in cell culture studies?

• Methodological Answer : Dose-response curves should use nonlinear regression models (e.g., sigmoidal fits) to calculate EC50/IC50 values. Account for cytotoxicity via MTT assays and normalize data to untreated controls. Principal component analysis (PCA) identifies confounding variables (e.g., pH shifts from HCl release) .