Reaction of thiourea with formaldehyde and simplest aliphatic diamines

N,N′-Bis(hydroxymethyl)thiourea reacted with propane-1,3-diamine at a molar ratio of 2 : 1 to give 5,5′-propane-1,3-diylbis(1,3,5-triazinane-2-thione), whereas 1,3,5,7,11,13,15,17-octaazatricyclo15.3.1.1^7,11]-docosane-4,14-dithione was obtained in the reaction with equimolar amounts of the reactants. Tricyclic product was also formed in the three-component condensation of thiourea with formaldehyde and propane-1,3-diamine at a ratio of 1 : 3 : 1. The reactions of N,N′-bis(hydroxymethyl)thiourea with ethane-1,2-diamine (2 : 1) and of thiourea with formaldehyde and butane-1,4-diamine (1 : 2 : 1) afforded 5,5′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis(1,3,5-triazinane-2-thione) and 5,5′-(butane-1,4-diyl)bis(1,3,5-triazinane-2-thione), respectively.