Diamine

General structure of (primary) diamines. The primary amino groups (NH2) are marked blue, R is a divalent organic radical (e.g. a para-phenylene group).

A diamine is an amine with exactly two amino groups. Diamines are used as monomers to prepare polyamides, polyimides, and polyureas. The term diamine refers mostly to primary diamines, as those are the most reactive.^[1]

In terms of quantities produced, 1,6-diaminohexane (a precursor to Nylon 6-6) is most important, followed by ethylenediamine.^[2] Vicinal diamines (1,2-diamines) are a structural motif in many biological compounds and are used as ligands in coordination chemistry.^[3]