AMINES

Amines are derived from ammonia by replacing the hydrogen atoms, one at a time with carbon –
containing groups.
The fundament groups are: R-NH2, R2 – NH, R3 – N

CLASSIFICATION OF AMINES
Amines are classified into primary, secondary and tertiary according to the number of substituted
hydrogen.

PRIMARY AMINES
These are amines that have one alkyl or aryl group attached to the nitrogen of an amine e.g
H
R – NH2 R–N
H
(i) CH3NH2
Methylamine

SECONDARY AMINES
These are amines that have two alkyl or aryl groups attached to the nitrogen of amine e.g
(i) CH3CH2 – N – CH2CH3 (ii) CH3 CH3
H N
diethylamine
N, N – dimethylamine

TERTIARY AMINES
These are amines that have three alkyl or aryl groups attached to the nitrogen of amine e.g
(i) (C2H5)3N (ii) CH3 – N – CH3
triethylamine CH3
N,N,N –trimethylamine

LABORATORY PREPARATION OF AMINE

1. from alkyl halide
Amines can be prepare from alkyl halides in the presence of excess ammonia
Equation:
2. by the reduction of nitriles
Reduction of nitriles with powerful reducing agent gives primary amine
Equation:
INDUSTRIAL PREPARATION OF AMINES
Trioxo-nitrate (v) acid readily converts alkanes to nitroalkanes using nickel as a catalyst
Equation:

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF AMINES

1. First two members of amine –methylamine and –ethylamine are gas, while others are liquid at
room temperature and pressure.
2. The smaller amines are soluble in water.
3. Amine have strong odour characteristic of dead fish.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF AMINES
1. Reaction as organic base: primary, secondary and tertiary amine are all basic, like ammonia
they have a lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atoms.
C6H5NH2 + HCl C6H5N+H3Cl+
Phenyl ammonium chloride
2. Like ammonia secondary and tertiary amines are alkylated to give _ - substituted derivatives.
H CH3
CH3 – N – CH3 + C2H5Br CH3 – N – CH3 + HBr

USES OF AMINES
Amines are used in the manufacture of polyamides or nylon.
AMIDES
An amide is a compound in which the – OH group of a carboxylic acid is replaced by – NH2.
When the – OH is replaced by – NHR, the product is called a nitrogen – substituted amide i.e N-
substituted amide. Amide are characterised by the presence of functional amino group.
O
-C
NH2
Amides are named as derivatives of carboxylic acids, by dropping the ending –oic of the parent
carboxylic acid and replace with the ending amide e.g.
O O
CH3 – C CH3 – C
OH NH2
Ethanioc ethanamide
PREPARATION OF AMIDES:
1. from ester, acylhalides or acid anhydrides: when esters, acylhalides or acid anhydrides are
treated with concentrated ammonia solution or liquid ammonia, amides are obtained
O O
CH3C + NH3 CH3 – C + CH3OH
O – CH3 NH2
Methyl ethanoate ethanamide
2. by partial hydrolysis of nitriles: this is achieved by dissolving the nitrile in concentrated
tetraoxosulphate(vi) acid. the mixture is then poured into water
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF AMIDES
1. With the exception of ethanamide, a liquid with a high boiling point, amides are crystalline
solids at room temperature.
2. The melting and boiling points of amide are much higher than expected.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF AMIDES
1. Amides are very weak base and also very weak acids
2. Amide are readily hydrolysed when treated with dilute acid or alkali to give the carboxylic
acid and ammonia is liberated.
3. Primary amides are reduced to primary amines with sodium and ethanol or with lithium
tetrahydrido aluminate (III).
4. Reaction with dioxonitrate (III) acid to yield carboxylic acid with the evolution of nitrogen