Nitrogen Containing Organic Compounds - Preparation of Amines

  • Amines are organic compounds that contain one or more nitrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms.
  • They can be prepared by various methods, such as:
    • Reduction of Nitro Compounds
    • Reduction of Amides
    • Gabriel Synthesis
    • Hoffmann Bromamide Reaction
    • Reduction of Nitriles

Reduction of Nitro Compounds

  • Nitro compounds can be reduced to primary amines.
  • The reduction is typically done using a reducing agent like:
    • Sodium amalgam (Na/Hg)
    • Zinc dust (Zn)
  • The reaction can be represented as:
    • R-NO2 + 6[H] -> R-NH2 + 2H2O

Example: Reduction of Nitrobenzene

  • Nitrobenzene can be reduced to aniline (phenylamine).
  • The reduction is typically done using tin and hydrochloric acid (Sn/HCl).
    • C6H5NO2 + 6[H] -> C6H5NH2 + 2H2O

Reduction of Amides

  • Amides can be reduced to primary amines.
  • The reduction is typically done using a reducing agent like:
    • Lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4)
    • Sodium borohydride (NaBH4)
  • The reaction can be represented as:
    • R-CONH2 + 4[H] -> R-NH2 + 2H2O

Example: Reduction of Acetamide

  • Acetamide can be reduced to methylamine.
  • The reduction is typically done using lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4).
    • CH3C(O)NH2 + 4[H] -> CH3NH2 + H2O

Gabriel Synthesis

  • Gabriel synthesis is a method for the preparation of primary amines.
  • It involves the reaction of an alkyl halide with phthalimide, followed by hydrolysis.
  • The reaction can be represented as:
    • R-X + Phthalimide -> R-NH-Phthalimide
    • R-NH-Phthalimide + KOH/H2O -> R-NH2 + Phthalic Acid

Example: Gabriel Synthesis of n-Butylamine

  • n-Butylamine can be prepared using Gabriel synthesis.
  • 1-Bromobutane is reacted with phthalimide, followed by hydrolysis.
    • CH3(CH2)3Br + Phthalimide -> CH3(CH2)3NH-Phthalimide
    • CH3(CH2)3NH-Phthalimide + KOH/H2O -> CH3(CH2)3NH2 + Phthalic Acid

Hoffmann Bromamide Reaction

  • Hoffmann bromamide reaction is a method for the preparation of primary amines.
  • It involves the reaction of an amide with bromine and a strong base, followed by hydrolysis.
  • The reaction can be represented as:
    • R-CONH2 + Br2 + KOH -> R-NH2 + KBr + H2O

Example: Hoffmann Bromamide Reaction of Acetamide

  • Acetamide can be converted to methylamine using Hoffmann bromamide reaction.
  • Acetamide is reacted with bromine and potassium hydroxide, followed by hydrolysis.
    • CH3C(O)NH2 + Br2 + KOH -> CH3NH2 + KBr + H2O

Reduction of Nitriles

  • Nitriles can be reduced to primary amines.
  • The reduction is typically done using a reducing agent like:
    • Lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4)
    • Sodium borohydride (NaBH4)
  • The reaction can be represented as:
    • R-CN + 4[H] -> R-CH2NH2

Example: Reduction of Acetonitrile

  • Acetonitrile can be reduced to ethylamine.
  • The reduction is typically done using lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4).
    • CH3CN + 4[H] -> CH3CH2NH2
  1. Hoffmann Bromamide Reaction of Acetamide
  • Acetamide can be converted to methylamine using Hoffmann bromamide reaction:
    • CH3C(O)NH2 + Br2 + KOH -> CH3NH2 + KBr + H2O
  • In this reaction, the amide group of acetamide is replaced by a bromine atom and a hydroxyl group.
  • The reaction takes place in the presence of a strong base, such as potassium hydroxide.
  1. Example: Hoffmann Bromamide Reaction of Acetamide
  • Let’s consider the reaction between acetamide and bromine in the presence of potassium hydroxide.
  • CH3C(O)NH2 + Br2 + KOH -> CH3NH2 + KBr + H2O
  • Acetamide reacts with bromine and potassium hydroxide to form methylamine, potassium bromide, and water.
  1. Reduction of Nitriles
  • Nitriles can be reduced to primary amines.
  • The reduction is typically done using a reducing agent like lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4) or sodium borohydride (NaBH4).
  • The reaction can be represented as: R-CN + 4[H] -> R-CH2NH2
  1. Example: Reduction of Acetonitrile
  • Acetonitrile can be reduced to ethylamine.
  • The reduction is typically done using lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4).
  • The reaction can be represented as: CH3CN + 4[H] -> CH3CH2NH2
  1. Reduction of Nitro Compounds
  • Nitro compounds can be reduced to primary amines.
  • The reduction is typically done using a reducing agent like sodium amalgam (Na/Hg) or zinc dust (Zn).
  • The reaction can be represented as: R-NO2 + 6[H] -> R-NH2 + 2H2O
  1. Example: Reduction of Nitrobenzene
  • Nitrobenzene can be reduced to aniline (phenylamine).
  • The reduction is typically done using tin and hydrochloric acid (Sn/HCl).
  • The reaction can be represented as: C6H5NO2 + 6[H] -> C6H5NH2 + 2H2O
  1. Reduction of Amides
  • Amides can be reduced to primary amines.
  • The reduction is typically done using a reducing agent like lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4) or sodium borohydride (NaBH4).
  • The reaction can be represented as: R-CONH2 + 4[H] -> R-NH2 + 2H2O
  1. Example: Reduction of Acetamide
  • Acetamide can be reduced to methylamine.
  • The reduction is typically done using lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4).
  • The reaction is represented as: CH3C(O)NH2 + 4[H] -> CH3NH2 + H2O
  1. Gabriel Synthesis
  • Gabriel synthesis is a method for the preparation of primary amines.
  • It involves the reaction of an alkyl halide with phthalimide, followed by hydrolysis.
  • The reaction can be represented as: R-X + Phthalimide -> R-NH-Phthalimide
  • R-NH-Phthalimide + KOH/H2O -> R-NH2 + Phthalic Acid
  1. Example: Gabriel Synthesis of n-Butylamine
  • n-Butylamine can be prepared using Gabriel synthesis.
  • 1-Bromobutane is reacted with phthalimide, followed by hydrolysis.
  • The reaction is represented as: CH3(CH2)3Br + Phthalimide -> CH3(CH2)3NH-Phthalimide
  • CH3(CH2)3NH-Phthalimide + KOH/H2O -> CH3(CH2)3NH2 + Phthalic Acid

Nitrogen Containing Organic Compounds - Preparation of Amines

  1. Reductive Amination
  • Reductive amination is a versatile method for the preparation of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines.
  • It involves the reaction of a carbonyl compound (aldehyde or ketone) with an amine and a reducing agent, such as sodium cyanoborohydride (NaBH3CN) or sodium triacetoxyborohydride (NaBH(OAc)3).
  • The reaction can be represented as:
    • R-CHO + R’-NH2 + NaBH3CN -> R-CH2NH-R’ + NaCN + NaBH4
    • R-COR’ + R’’-NH2 + NaBH(OAc)3 -> R-CH(NH-R’’)COR’ + NaOAc + NaBH4
  1. Example: Reductive Amination of Benzaldehyde with Methylamine
  • Benzaldehyde can be converted to N-methylbenzylamine using reductive amination.
  • The reaction is typically done using methylamine and sodium cyanoborohydride.
    • C6H5CHO + CH3NH2 + NaBH3CN -> C6H5CH2NHCH3 + NaCN + NaBH4
  1. Hofmann Rearrangement
  • The Hofmann rearrangement is a method for the preparation of primary amines.
  • It involves the reaction of a primary amide with bromine and a strong base, followed by hydrolysis.
  • The rearrangement leads to the isocyanate intermediate, which then hydrolyzes to form the primary amine.
  • The reaction can be represented as: RCONH2 + Br2 + KOH -> R-NC + KBr + H2O
  • R-NC + H2O -> R-NH2 + CO2
  1. Example: Hofmann Rearrangement of Acetamide
  • Acetamide can be converted to methylamine using the Hofmann rearrangement.
  • Acetamide is reacted with bromine and potassium hydroxide, followed by hydrolysis.
    • CH3C(O)NH2 + Br2 + KOH -> CH3NC + KBr + H2O
    • CH3NC + H2O -> CH3NH2 + CO2
  1. Curtius Rearrangement
  • The Curtius rearrangement is a method for the preparation of primary amines.
  • It involves the reaction of an acyl azide with a reducing agent, such as triphenylphosphine (PPh3), followed by hydrolysis.
  • The rearrangement leads to the isocyanate intermediate, which then hydrolyzes to form the primary amine.
  • The reaction can be represented as: RCO-N3 + PPh3 -> R-NCO + PPh3O
  • R-NCO + H2O -> R-NH2 + CO2
  1. Example: Curtius Rearrangement of Acetyl Azide
  • Acetyl azide can be converted to methylamine using the Curtius rearrangement.
  • Acetyl azide is reacted with triphenylphosphine (PPh3), followed by hydrolysis.
    • CH3CO-N3 + PPh3 -> CH3-NCO + PPh3O
    • CH3-NCO + H2O -> CH3NH2 + CO2
  1. Ammonolysis of Esters
  • Ammonolysis of esters is a method for the preparation of primary amines.
  • It involves the reaction of an ester with ammonia, followed by hydrolysis.
  • The reaction can be represented as: RCOOR’ + NH3 -> RCONH2 + R’OH
  • RCONH2 + H2O -> R-NH2 + R’COOH
  1. Example: Ammonolysis of Ethyl Acetate
  • Ethyl acetate can be converted to ethanolamine using ammonolysis.
  • Ethyl acetate is reacted with ammonia, followed by hydrolysis.
    • CH3COOC2H5 + NH3 -> CH3CONH2 + C2H5OH
    • CH3CONH2 + H2O -> CH3NH2 + CH3COOH
  1. Reactions of Amines
  • Amines can undergo various reactions, such as:
    • Nucleophilic substitution reactions
    • Acylation reactions
    • Diazotization reactions
    • Oxidation reactions
  1. Example: Nucleophilic Substitution Reaction of Methylamine
  • Methylamine can undergo nucleophilic substitution reactions with alkyl halides.
  • In the presence of a base, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), methylamine reacts with an alkyl halide to form a substituted amine.
    • CH3NH2 + CH3Br + NaOH -> CH3NHCH3 + NaBr + H2O