Primary amines, amides

and amino acids

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Organic chemicals
alkanes
alkenes
alcohols
aldehydes
ketone
carboxylic acids
esters
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Biological
Molecules
all of the above plus

N-containing
molecules
DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid

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A nucleotide the structural unit

of a DNA molecule
phosphate

Base
Deoxyribose
sugar

Biological
Molecules
messenger RNA - ribonucleic acid

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Biological
Molecules
transfer

RNA

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Biological
Molecules

 Proteins are organic chemicals that make up

organisms
Anaboli
c

Muscle
Connectiv
e
tissue

Digesti
ve

Su
pp
ort

ym
Enz

es

Catabol
ic

PROTEIN
S
Human
Growth
Hormon
e

me es
o
S on
rm
Ho

Cell
membranes

Tra
ns
po
rt

Gas
transpo
rt in
blood

Amalase

Haemoglo
bin

Insulin
Protein
Channe
ls

C Morrit Catherine Morritt,

TDCC Biological Sciences, DET
Western Australiat

proteins
enzymes
respiratory
digestive

hormones
thyroxin

structural
muscle

transport
haemoglobin

immuno-proteins
plasma membranes

Primary amines and amino acids

amino acids are the monomers of proteins
amines are the building blocks of amino acids

Look for patterns what do the following have in

common?

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methanamine
a colourless, noxious, acrid gas which is quite

nasty and explosive, a derivative of ammonia but

one H has been replaced by a ________________

It is the simplest primary amine

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propan-1-amine

Extremely flammable.

Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.

Causes burns

Keep container tightly closed and in well-ventilated place.

Keep away from sources of ignition - No Smoking.

In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of
water and seek medical advice.
Wear suitable clothing, gloves and eye/face protection.
In case of accident or if you feel unwell seek medical advice
immediately.

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amphetamine a stimulant

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serotonin a neurotransmitter

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http://www.compoundchem.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Brief-Guide-to-C
ommon-Painkillers-Oct-14.

Primary amines
Amines are structurally related to ammonia.

Therefore they are _____________ molecules.

They exhibit _________________________ bonding.

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Hydrogen bonding in amines

Amines have higher boiling points than alkanes

of the similar molecular masses.

Why?
How do the boiling points of amines relate to the

alcohols?
As the molecular mass of the amines increases

what happens to the solubility of the amines?

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Properties
Many are weak bases like ammonia.

H+ ion from water donated to the nitrogen atom on

the amine

CH3NH2(aq) + H2O

(l)

CH3NH3+(aq) + OH-

(aq)

Pungent smell like ammonia

the smells of rotting flesh

Many prescribed drugs are amines

Insoluble in water as molecular mass increases
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- amino acids

means
both the
amino
group and
the
carboxyl
group are
attached
to the one
carbon
atom.

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 Amino acids have a central carbon with four

groups bonded to it:

a carboxyl group (COOH)
an amino group (NH2)

a hydrogen atom
an R group

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amino acids

the monomers of proteins

20 are found in nature

used to construct proteins and therefore build;

enzymes
respiratory

hormones
thyroxin

structural
muscle

transport
haemoglobin

immuno-proteins
plasma membranes

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Three examples of amino

acids
glycine

alanine

valine

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ionic nature of amino acids

High melting points and boiling points
solids at room temperature
therefore amino acids exist in their ionised forms
these are called zwitterions - German for "hybrid

ion"

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Diagrammatic Overview of amino

acids providing buffering functions

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amphoterric nature
R-CH-COOH +

OH-

NH2

acid
+
water

H2O

NH2

base

R-CH-COOH +
NH2
H2O

R CH-COO- +

H3O+

base + acid

carboxylate salt

R COOH

NH3

water

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