AMINES

AMINES
INTRODUCTION
In this unit we shall focus our attention on the chemistry of organic compounds with functional groups containing
nitrogen. The important functional groups in which nitrogen is present are

Cyanides and isocyanides

Nomenclature
In IUPAC system of nomenclature, cyanides are called as alkanenitriles.
Methods of preparation
Form alkyl halides
When alkyl halide is treated with ethanolic solution of KCN, we get major product alkyl cyanide but when
alkyl halide is treated with AgCN, the major product is alkyl isocyanide.
RX + KCN (alcoholic) > RCN + KX
alkyl halide
RX + AgCN (alcoholic) > RNC + AgX
Here CN- is nucleophile. The cyanide ion has an unshared pair of electrons on both carbon and nitrogen.

Molecular formula
CH 3CN
CH3-CH2-CN
CH2=CH-CN
C6H5CN
CH3-CH-CN
|
CH 3

Here either carbon or nitrogen can act as a nucleophilic centre. Such a nucleophile which can react at two sites
is known as an ambident nucleophile. NO2 is also an ambident nucleophile.

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
2
From acid amides
Alkyl and aryl cyanides are prepared by dehydration of acid amides with phosphorous pentaoxide (P2O5) or
thionyl chloride (SOCl2). In this method pure cyanide is prepared.

From diazonium salt

Arenediazonium salt when reacted with a mixture of copper(1) cyanides and NaCN or KCN, lose nitrogen to
give aryl cyanides

This method is a special case of Sandmeyers reaction.

From aldoximes
Dehydration of aldoxmies with P2O5 or acetic anhydride gives cyanide

From primary animes

Isocyanides are obtained when primary amines are treated with CHCl3 in the persence of KOH.

The above reaction is also called carbylamine reaction. This reaction is not given by secondary and tertiary
amines.
Proparties of Cyanides and Isocyanides
Physical properties
The lower members of the family are colourless liquids and higher members are crystalline solid. Cyanides
have generally pleasant odour but isocyanides have very disagreeable odour. Both - CN and - NC groups are
highly polar. Both cyanides and isocyanides have high dipole moments resulting in strong intermolecular
attraction and have relatively high boiling points. Alkyl cyanides have relatively high boiling point than the
corresponding isomeric isocyanides. Alkyl cyanides are more soluble in water than alkyl isocyanides. The
solubility of cyanides in water is due to their tendency to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules.

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES

Chemical properties
Hydrolysis
Alkyl cyanides can be hydrolysed under acidic or basic condition to give amides. The further hydrolysis of
amides give carboxylic acids and ammonia.

Iso cyanides can be hydrolysed by dilute acids to form primary amines and formic acid.

Alkyl isocyanides are not hydrolysed by alkalies.

Reduction
Nitriles undergo reduction to form primary amines as the product. We can use following reagents.
a) H2 in the presence of Ni or Pt
b) LiAlH4
c) Na + C2H5OH
LiAlH4
CH3CH2CN CH3-CH2-CH2-NH2
propanamine

On the other hand isocyanides are reduced to secondry amines.

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
4
Addition reaction
Isocyanides (but not cyanides) react with halogens, sulphur, mercuric oxide, ozone to give addition compounds.

Methyl Isocyanate gas (MIC) was responsible for the Bhopal gas tragedy.
Isomerism
Alkyl isocynides on heating for a long time rearrange to more stable alkyl cyanides.
heat
R - NC RCN
alkyl isocyanide alkyl cyanide
Uses
1) Ethane nitrile is used as a solvent in perfume industry.
2) Nitriles are also used in the manufacture of nitrile rubber and in textiles.
3) The alkyl nitriles or cyanides are useful intermediates in organic synthesis.
Nitro compounds
Nitro compounds are characterised by the presence of nitro group (-NO2) in their molecules. They may be
aliphatic or aromatic.
R-NO2 Ar-NO2
The - O-N=O group is isomeric with nitro group and is known as a nitrite group.
Nomenclature
They are named by using the prefix nitro before the name of parent hydrocarbon.
CH3NO2
(Nitromethane)
CH3CH2NO2
(Nitroethane)

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES

Methods of preparation
Alkyl bromides and alkyl iodides react with silver nitrite and give nitro compounds.

But with NaNO2 or KNO2 it gives ethyl nitrite.

NO2 is an ambident nucleophile (having two attacking sites N and O atoms). Attack through N gives nitroalkanes
as product and attack through oxygen gives alkylnitrites. Alkali nitrites give alkyl nitrite. Due to ionic nature of
alkali nitrites, the attack mostly occurs through oxygen because C-O bond is relatively stronger. In the case of
silver nitrite which is covalent in nature, the attack mostly occurs through N atom giving nitro compound as
major product.

By direct nitration
Aromatic nitro compounds are obtained by this method. Nitrobenzene is produced when benzene is allowed to
react with a mixture of conc. HNO3 and conc. H2SO4

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
Mechanism of Nitration

Direct nitration of alkanes is relatively more difficult in comparison to the nitration of arenes.
High temperature vapour phase reaction of alkanes with HNO3 gives a mixture of nitroalkanes and products
like CO2, water and oxides of nitrogen.

Properties
Physical properties
Lower nitroalkanes are colourless liquids with pleasant smell. Aromatic nitro compounds like nitrobenzene
have pale yellow colour. Nitrobenzene has a smell of bitter almonds. Nitroalkanes are sparingly soluble in
water. Aromatic nitro compounds are not soluble in water at all. Nitro compounds are polar in nature so molecular
interaction is more and they have high boiling points as compared to hydrocarbons of comparable molecular
masses. Nitroalkanes are relatively more polar than their corresponding alkyl nitrite.
C2H5NO2 C2H5 - O - N = O
b.p. = 388 K
b.p. = 261 K
(nitro ethane)
(ethyl nitrite)
Chemical properties
Reduction
Nitroalkanes can be reduced to corresponding primary amines with LiALH4

Catalytic reduction
Both aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds are reduced to primary amines on reaction with H 2/Ni or H2/Pt or
H2/Pd.

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
7
Reduction in acidic medium
On reducing the nitro compounds with Zn/HCl, Fe/HCl or Sn/HCl, the NO2 group reduced to primary amino
group.
Fe/HCl
CH3CH2NO2 + 6H
CH3-CH2-NH2 + 2H20

Nitration
By the nitration of nitrobenzene we get m-dinitrobenzene.

Sulphonation
By sulphonation of nitrobenzene we get the following compound

Halogenation
By the halogenation of nitrobenzene we get m-chloronitrobenzene.

Distinction between nitro alkanes and alkyl nitrites

Nitroalkanes and alkyl nitrite are functional isomers having the structural formula

They can be distinguished by the following test,

Nitroalkanes on reduction with H2/Ni, Sn/HCl, or LiAlH4 give primary amines while nitrites give primary
alcohols.

Alkyl nitrites on hydrolysis form alcohols while nitroalkanes do not get hydrolysed and form only salts.

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
8
Nitroalkanes (primary and secondry) react with HNO2 give nitrolic acid which gives red colour with NaOH
aqueous solution.

Ethyl nitrite does not give any color.

Uses
Lower nitroalkanes and nitrobenzene are widely used as industrial solvent for a large numbers of organic
compounds.
These are used as intermediates in the production of explosives, pharmaceuticals etc. 2,4,6, trinitrotoulene
(T.N.T.) and 1,3,5, trinitrobenzene (T.N.B.) are popular explosives.
Chloropicrin is used as insecticide
Nitroalkanes are used in the manufacture of hydroxylamine
Amines
Amines may be regarded as the alkyl or aryl derivatives of ammonia. They can be classified into primary,
secondry, or tertiary amines.

Nomenclature
According to IUPAC system primary amines are named as amino (-NH2) derivatives of the corresponding
hydrocarbon and are called aminoalkanes. The secondry and tertiary amines are named as nitrogen substituted
primary amine.

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
9
Preparation of amines
When an aqueous or alcoholic solution of ammonia is heated with an alkyl halide at 373 K in a sealed tube, all
the three types of amines are obtained. This type of react ion is called ammonolysis.
CH 3I + NH3 CH3NH2 + HI
CH3NH2 + CH3I CH3-NH-CH3 + HI
CH3-NH + CH3I
|
CH3

CH3-N-CH3 + HI

Amine formula
CH3 NH 2
C2H 5NH 2
CH3-CH2-CH2 -CH 2-NH2
CH3-CH-CH3
|
NH2
CH3-NH-CH3
CH3-N-CH3
|
CH3
CH3-N-C2 H5
|
CH3

CH3
Common name
methylamine
n propylamine
isopropylamine
dimethylamine
trimethylamine

ethyldimethylamine

Tertiary amine also combine with methyl iodide to form quaternary ammonium salts.
(CH3)3N + CH3I [(CH3)4N]+IThis mehtod is not suitable for the preparation of ovylamines.
By Gabriel phthalimide synthesis
In this method, phthalimide is first converted into potassium phthalimide by reaction with KOH. The potassium
phthalimide on treatment with alkyl halide gives N-alkyl phthalimide which on hydrolysis with 20% HCl gives
pure primary amine.

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES

10

By the reduction of nitro compounds

Reduction on nitriles and Isonitriles

Nitriles can be reduced to amines using H2/Ni or Pt, LiAlH4 or Na/C2H5OH

The reduction of isocyanides under similar condition give secondry amines

From amides

From amides using Hofmann degradation method

By this method primary amide can be converted into primary amines.

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
11
By the reduction of oximes
Primary amimes can be prepared by the reduction of oximes of aldehyde and ketones with Na/C2H5OH or
LiAlH4

From alcohols (industrial method)

On industrial scale aliphatic amines are prepared by passing vapours of alcohols and ammonia over alumina at
273 k.

The mixture of three amines are separated by fractional distillation.

Preparatoin of aniline (industrial preparation)
It is prepared by the following way

aniline is also prepared on large scale by treating chlorobenzene with ammonia at 473K and 60 atm. pressure
using Cu2O as catalyst.

Properites
Physical properties
Among aliphatic amines the lower members are gases while higher members are liquids. Among oxylamines
the lower members are liquids while higher members are solids. CH3NH2 and C2H5NH2 have ammonical smell
but higher amines have fishy smell. Most of the aromatic amines are colourless in pure form. Aromatic amines

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
12
are generally toxic. All amines, except the tertiary amines are capable of forming intermolecular hydrogen
bonds due to the presence of polar N-H bonds.

As a result of this, amines have higher boiling point than the non polar compounds of comparable molecular
masses. Lower aliphatic amines are soluble in water. The higher one with larger alkyl groups are less soluble.
Chemical properties
Like ammonia, primary, secondry, tertiary amines all have a loan pair of electron on nitrogen atom. So they
behave as a nucleophile and a base. Alkylamines are stronger base than ammonia because alkyl group is electron
pumping group and they will increase the electron density on nitrogen.

C6H5NH2 will be less basic than ammonia because C6H5 group is electron attracting group and it will decrease
the
electron
density
on
nitrogen.
So
CH3NH2 > NH3 > C6H5NH2
Basic strength of primary, secondry, tertiary amines

Among all the three amines the electron pumping effect (+I efect) is maximum in tertiary amines and least in
primary amines. So on the basis of +I effect, the basic strength is expected to increase from primary amine to
tertiary amine. This is true in gas phase. In aqueous medium, it is observed that basic character of secondry
amine is maximum and tertiary amine have least basic character.

Basic character decreases

Explanation
Basic strength in aqueous solution depends not only upon electron releasing effect but also upon steric and
hydration effect.
Steric effect
Steric means hinderance by bulky group. If more and more groups are there, then there will be more steric
effect. Suppose proton is going to attack on nitrogen atom in a amine, hinderance will be maximum in tertiary
amine and so it will be least basic. Thus on the basis of steric effect we can say basic strength of
Primary amine > Secondry amine > Tertiary amine or 1o > 2o > 3o
Hydration effect
uppose H+ is attacking on amine, we get the following protonated amine

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES

13

The protonated amine forms hydrogen bond with water and release energy called hydration energy. Now greater
the extent of H bonding, more will be its stabilisation and consequently greater will be the basic strength of the
corresponding amine.

Hydration energy is maximum in primary amine (1o) and it is minimum in tertiary amine (3o). On the basis of
hydration energy basic strength should decrease from 1o > 2o > 3o Thus, we find that in 3o amine, hydration is
least and steric hinderance is maximum thus it is least basic inspite of maximum +I effect. In 1o amine (primary
amine) steric - hinderance is least and hydration is maxium but +I effect is also minimum. Hence its basic
strength is more than 3o amine. The resultant of all factors cause 2o amine to be still more basic than 1o amine
thus
overall
basic
strength
varies
as
2o > 1o > 3o or Secondry amine is more basic > Primary amine > Tertiary amine
Reaction with acid
Amines dissolve readily in acids to form quaternary salts

Salts of amines are ionic compounds. They are soluble in water. The amines, which are insoluble in water can
be converted to the water soluble quaternary ammonium salts.
Reaction with metal ions
Lower aliphatic amines form co-ordination complexes with metal ions like Ag +, Cu2+. AgCl dissolves in

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
methylamine solution.

14

Reaction with alkyl halides

Amines react with alkyl halides to form amines of higher class
+RX
+RX
+RX
RNH 2
R 2NH
R 3N

-HX
-HX
tetra alkyl]
ammonium halide
C2H5NH2 + C2H5I > (C2H5)2NH + HI
N-ethylamino ethane
(C2H5)2NH + C2H5I > (C2H5)3N + HI
N,N-diethyl aminoethane
(C 2H 5) 3N
+
C 2H 5I
>

R 4N +X -

(C 2H 5) 4N

tetra ethylammonium iodide

'
Reactron with acid chlorides and acid anhydrides
Primary and secondry amines react with acid chlorides or acid anhydrides to form substituted amides.
H
|
CH3-N-H + CH3COCl > CH3-NHCOCH3
+ HClN
methylethaneamide

Tertiary amines do not undergo this reaction (acylation ) because they do not have H atom on the nitrogen.

www.thinkiit.in

I-

AMINES
15
Benzoylation
When H atom of amino group by benzoyl group (C6H5-CO) it is called benzoylation. Primary and secondry
amines react with benzoyl chloride (C6H5COCl) in the presence of a base like pyridine to form benzoyl derivative.

Tertiary amines do not give this test.

Reaction with HNO2
Primary aromatic amines react with HNO2 at low temperature (OoC) to give aromatic diazonium salts. This
reaction is known as diazotisation

Primary aliphatic amines give alcohol

NaNO2/HCl
C2H5NH2 + HNO2 C2H5OH+N2 + H2O
Secondary aliphatic and aromatic amines react with HNO2 to produce nitroso amines that are insoluble in the
aqueous solution and comes out as a yellow oil and forms a separate layer.

Reaction with tertiary aliphatic amines

(C2H5)3N + HNO2 > [(C2H5)3NH] + NO2triethly ammonium nitrite
Reaction with tertiary aromatic amines

Bromination of aniline
We get 2,4,6, tribromo aniline

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
16
Sulphonation of aniline
Aniline reacts with H2SO4(conc.) and forms anilinium hydrogen sulphate, which on heating gives p aminobenzene
sulphonic acid which is also called sulphanilic acid.

Sulphanilic acid exists as zwitter ion ie a dipolar ion which exists in the form of internal salt structure.
Diazonium salts and their reactions
The diazonium salts are represented by ArN2+X-. They are prepared as under

The above reaction is known as diazotisation. Aromatic diazonium salts undergo a large numbers of reactions.
The reaction of arenediazonium salts can be divided into two categories.
(a) Substitution reaction
(b) Coupling reaction
Substitution reaction
CuCl/HCl
+
ArN2 Cl ArCl + N2
CuBr/HBr
+
ArN2 Cl ArBr + N2 + ClCuCN/KCN
+
ArN2 Cl ArCN + N2 + ClThe above reactions are Sandmeyers reactions
Cu/HCl
+
ArN2 Cl ArCl + N2
Cu/HBr]
+
Cl
ArN
ArBr + N2 + Cl2
The above reactions are Gattermann reaction
Warm
+
ArN2 Cl + KI ArI + N2 + KCl
HBF4
-Heat
+
+
ArN2 Cl ArN2 BF4- ArF + N2 + BF3
Warm(H+)
ArN2+Cl- + H2O ArOH + N2 + HCl

(flouroboric acid)

ArN2+Cl- + H3PO2 + HOH ArH + N2 + H3PO3 + HCl

hypophosphorus acid arene
Coupling reaction
Diazonium salts react with highly activated aromatic compounds such as phenols and amines to form azo
compounds. Azo compounds are coloured and many of them are used as dyes and indicator.

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
Reaction with phenols

17

Reaction with aniline

The indicator methyl orange is obtained by coupling the diazonium salt of sulphanilic acid with N, Ndimethylaniline

Analysis of amines
Hinsbergs test
This test helps to distinguish between primary, secondry and tertiary amines. The given amine is treated with
benzene sulphonyl chloride in the presence of excess of aqueous KOH.
A clear solution in aqueous KOH which on acidification with HCl gives an insoluble material indicates
primary amines.

A precipitate (insoluble compound) which is insoluble in KOH solution indicates secondry amine.

Tertiary amines do not react with benzene sulphonyl chloride. An insoluble compound in KOH solution
which dissolves by the addition of acid indicates tertiary amine.

Carbylamine test
From this test we can identify primary amine (aliphatic as well as aromatic). In this test compound is warmed
with CHCl3 (chloroform) in the presence of alcoholic solution of KOH. The primary amines yield isocyanides
which have an extremely unpleasant smell.
RNH2 + CHCl3 + 3KOH
RNC + 3KCl + 3H2O
alkyl isocyanide
ArNH2 + CHCl3 + 3KOH
ArNC + 3KCl + 3H2O
aryl isocyanide

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES

18

SOLVED PROBLEMS
Q.1

Classify the following amines as primary, secondary and tertiary :

N(CH3)2

NH2

(b)

(a)

Ans.

Q.2

Ans.

(c) (C2H5)2 CHNH2 (d) (C2H5)2NH

(a) parimary
(b) Tertiary
(c) Primary
(d) Secondary
(a) Write structures of different isomeric amines corresponding to the molecular formula, C4H11N.
(b) Write IUPAC names of all the isomers.
(c) What type of ismerism is exhibited by different pairs of amines ?
(a and b)
Primary amines :
(i) CH3CH2CH2CH2NH2
Butanamine

(ii) CH3CH2CHCH3
|
NH2

Butan-2-amine

CH3
|
CH 3CNH2
|
CH3

(iii)

2-Methylpropan-2-amine

CH3

2|

(iv) CH3CHCH2NH 2
2-Methylpropanamine

Secondary amines :
(v) CH3CH2NHCH2CH3
N-Ethylethanamine

(vi) CH3CH2CH2NHCH3
N-Methylpropanamine

CH3

2|

(vii) CH3CHNHCH3
N-Methylpropan-2-amine

Tertiary amine :
CH3
|
(viii) CH3NCH2CH3
N, N-Dimethylethanamine

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
(c)

19

Chain isomers :
(i) & (iv), (ii) & (iii), (i) & (iii)
Position isomers : (i) & (ii), (vi) & (vii)
Metamers : (v) & (vi)
Functional isomers : All primary amines are functional isomers of secondary and tertiary amines and vice
versa.

Q.3

Give one chemical test to distinguish between the following pairs of compounds
(i)

Methylamine and dimethylamine

(ii)

Secondary and tertiary amines

(iii) Ethylamine and aniline

Ans.

(i)

These can be distinguished by the carbylamine test. Methylamine is 1 amine, therefore, it gives

carbylamine test, i.e., when heated with an alcholic solutoin of KOH and CHCl3, it gives an offensive smell
of methyl carbylamine. In contrast, diethylamine is a secondary amine and hence does not give this test.
CH3NH2 + CHCl3 + 3KOH
Methylamine
(1 o Amine)

Heat

CH3NC
Methyl carbylamine
(offensive smell)

(alc)

+ 3KCl + 3H2O
(CH3CH2)2 NH

CHCl3/KOH(alc)

NO reaction.

Heat

Diethylamine
(2o Amin)

(ii) These can be distinguished by Liebermann nitroamine test since secondary amines give Liebermann
nitroamine test while tertiary amines do not.
Secondry Amines on treatment with HNO2 (generated in situ by the action of HCl on NaNO2) gives yellow
coloured oily N-nitrosoamine. For example.
(CH3CH2)2 NH + HON=O

(CH 3CH 2) 2 NN=O+H 2O

Diethy lamine

N-Nitrodiethylamine
(Yellow colour)

N-Nitrosodiethylamine on warming with a crystal of phenol and conc. H2SO4, gives a great solution which
when made alkaline with aqueous NaOH turns deep blue and then red on dilution. Tertiary amines do not
give this test.
(iii) Ethylamine is primary aliphatic amine while alinine is a primary aromatic amine. These may be
distinguished by the azo dye test :
Azo dye test : It involves the reaction of any aromatic primary amine with HNO2 (NaNO2+dil. HCl) at
273278 K followed by treatment with an alkaline solution of 2-naphthol (b-naphthol) when a brilliant
yellow, orange or red coloured dye is obtained.
NH2 + HONO + HCl

273-278 K

Benzenediazonium chloride

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES

20
OH

OH
+

Dil. NaOH
pH 9-10

N=N

+ HCl

Benzenediazonium chloride

1-Phenylazo-2-naphthol
(Orange dye)

2-Naphthol

Aliphatic primary amines under these conditions gives a brisk evolutoin of N 2 gas with the formation of
primary alcohols, i.e., the solution remains clear.
C2H 5NH2 + HONO

273-278 K

Ethylamine

C2H5OH + N2 + H2O
Ethyl alcohol

These may be distinguished by the following test.

Q.4

Ans.

Account for the following :

(i) pKb of aniline is more than that of methylamine.
(ii) Ethylamine is soluble in water, whereas aniline is not.
(iii) Methylamine in water reacts with ferric chloride to precipitate hydrated ferric oxide.
(iv) Although amino group is o- and p-directing in aromatic electrophilic substitution reactions,
aniline on nitration gives a substantial amount of m-nitroaniline.
(i) In aniline, the lone pair of electrons on the N-atom are delocalized over the benzene ring. Resulting,
electron density on the nitrogen decreases. On the other hand, in CH 3CH2. +ve-I-effect of CH3 increases
the electron density on the N-atom. Thus, aniline is a weaker base than methylamine and hence its pKb
value is higher than that of methylamine.
(ii) Ethylamine dissolves in water because it forms H-bonds with water molecule as shown below.

H
|
HN HO
|
|
C2H5 H

H
|
HN HO
|
|
H
C2H5

In aniline, due to the large, hydrocarbon part, the extent of H-bonding decreases considerably and hence
aniline is insoluble in water.
(iii) Methylamine being more basic than water, accepts a proton from water liberating OH ions.
CH3 NH2 + HOH

CH3NH3 + OH

These OH ions combine with Fe3+ ions present in H2O to form brown precipitate of hydrated ferric oxide.
FeCl3 Fe3+ + 3Cl
2Fe3+ + 6OH 2Fe(OH)3 or Fe2O3. 3H2O
Hydrated ferric oxide
(Brown ppt.)

(iv) Nitration is usually carried out with a mixture of conc. HNO3 and conc. H2SO4.
In presence of these acids, most of aniline gets protonated to form anilinium ion. Thus, in presence of acids,

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
the reaction mixture consists of aniline and anilinium ion. Now NH 2

21

group in aniline is o, p-directing and activating while the NH 3 group in anilinium ion is m-directing and
deactivating.
On the other hand, nitration of aniline mainly gives p-nitroaniline, the nitration of anilinium ion gives mnitroaniline.
NH2

NH2
+NH+2

NH2
NO2

H
Aniline

o-Nitroaniline (2%)

NO2
P-Nitroaniline(51%)

+H
+

NH3

NH3

NH2

+NH+2

NH4OH

NO2

Anilinium ion

m-Nitroaniline

NO2
m-Nitroaniline(47%)

Thus, nitration of aniline gives a substantial amount of m-nitroaniline due to protonation of the amino
group.
Q.5

Ans.

Give plausible explanation for each of the following :

(i) Why are amines less acidic than alcohols of comparable molecular masses ?
(ii) Why are aliphatic amines stronger bases than aromatic amines ?
(i) Loss of a proton from an amine gives amide ion while loss of a proton from alcohol gives an alkoxide ion
as shown below :
R NH2 R NHQ + H+
Amine

Amide ion

R O H R OQ + H+
As O is more electronegative than N, RO can accommodate the -ve charge more easily than the RNHQ can
accommodate the -ve charge.
As, ROQ is more stable than RNHQ . Therefore, amines are less acidic than alcohols.
(ii) A liphatic amines are stronger bases than aromatic amines because :
(a) due to resonance in aromatic amines, the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom gets delocalised
over the benzene ring and thus is less easily available for protonation.
(b) The aryl amine ions have lower stability than the corresponding aryl amines. i.e., protonation of aromatic
amines is not fovoured.

Q.6

Mention two important uses of sulphanilic acid.

Ans.

Sulphanilic acid is used in the manufacture of (i) dyes (ii) sulpha drugs.

Q.7

Aniline gets coloured on standing in air for a long time. Why ?

Ans.

Due to strong electron-donating effect (+R-effect) of NH2 group, the electron density on the benzene ring
increases. As a result, aniline is easily oxidised on standing in air for a long time to form coloured products.

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES

22

EXERCISE - I
UNSOLVED PROBLEMS
Q.1

Direct nitration of aniline is not carried out. Explain why.

Q.2

How can you control the reactivity of aniline in electrophilic substitution reaction ?

Q.3

Arrange the following in decreasing order of their basic strength :

C6H5NH2, C2H5NH2, (C2H5)2NH, NH3

Q.4

Out of n-butylamine (Kb = 4.8) and isobutyl amine (Kb = 3) in aqueous medium, isbutylamine is more basic
why ?

Q.5

Basic character of isobutylamine (Kb = 3),

sec--butylamine (Kb = 4) and tert-butylamine (Kb = 5) in aqueous medium is in the order tert-Butylamine <
sec-Butylamine < Isobutylamines. Why ?

Q.6

Predict, giving reasons, the order of basicity of the following compound in (i) gaseous phase (ii) in aqueous
solutions ;
(CH3)3N, (CH3)2NH, CH3NH2, NH3

Q.7

Account for the following :

(a) Aniline does not undergo Friedel Crafts alkynation.
(b) Although NH2 group is ortho and paradirecting group nitration of aniline give along with ortho and
para derivative, a good proportion of meta derivative also.

Q.8

How will you distinguish between

(a)
(b)

NH2

CH3NH

and CH3NH2,

and (CH3)3N.

CH3

Q.9

Classify the following amines as primary secondary or tertiary.

NH2

(i)

N(CH3) 2

(ii)

(iii) (C2H5)2CHNH2 (iv) (C2H5)2NH.

Q.10

(i) Write structures of different isomeric amines corresponding to the molecular formula C4H11N.
(ii) Write IUPAC names of all the isomers.
(iii) What type of isomerism is exhibited by different pairs of amines ?

Q.11

How will you convert

(i) Benzene into aniline
(ii) Benzene into N, N-dimethylaniline
(iii) Cl[CH2]4Cl into hexane-1, 6-diamine.

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
23
Q.12 Write reactions of the final alkynation product of aniline with excess of methyl iodide in the presence of
sodium carbonate solution.
Q.13

Write chemical reaction of aniline with benzoyl chloride and write the name of the product obtained.

Q.14

Write structures of different isomers corresponding to the molecular formula C3H9N. Write IUPAC names
of the isomers which will liberate nitrogen gas on treatment with nitrous acid.

Q.15

Give on chemical test to distinguish between the following pairs of compounds.

(i) Methylamineand dimethylamine
(ii) Secondary and tertiary amines
(iii) Ethylamine and aniline
(iv) Aniline and benzylamine
(v) Aniline and N-methylaniline.

Q.16

How will you convert :

(i) Ethanoic acid into methenamine,
(ii) Hexanenitrile into 1-aminopentane,
(iii) Methanol to ethanoic acid,
(iv) Ethanamine into methanamine,
(v) Ethanoic acid into propanoic acid,
(vi) Methanamine into ethanamine
(vii) Nitromethane into dimethylamine.
(viii) Propanoic acid into ethanoic acid,

Q.17

Describe a method for the identification of primary secondary and tertiary amines. Also write chemical
equations of the reactions involved.

Q.18

Write the IUPAC name of C6H5NHCH3

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES

24

EXERCISE - II
BOARD PROBLEMS
Q.1
Q.2
Q.3
Q.4
Q.5

Why do animes behave as nucleophiles ?

[CBSE 2008]
Why is an alkylamine more basic than ammonia
[CBSE 2009]
Arrange the following compounds in an increasing order of basic strengths in their aqueous solutions.
NH3, CHNH2, (CH3)2NH, (CH3)3N
[CBSE 2009]
Arrange the following compound in an increasing order of their basic strength in aqueous solutions.
NH3, RNH2, R2NH, R3N
[CBSE 2009]
Complete the following reaction equations :
O

(i)

RCNH2

LiAlH4
H2O

(ii) C6H5N2Cl + H3PO2 + H2O

(iii) C6H5NH2 + Br2(aq)

[CBSE 2009]

How are the following conversions carried out

(i) Aniline to nitrobenzene
(ii) Ethanamine to N-ethylethanamide
(iii) Chloroethane to propan-1-amine

[CBSE 2009]

In the following cases rearrange the compound as directed :

(i) In an increasing order of basic strength :
C6H5NH2, C6H5N(CH3)2, (C2H5)2NH and CH3NH2
(ii) In a decreasing order of basic strength :
Aniline, p-nitroaniline and p-toluidine
(iii) In an increasing order of pKb values :
C2H5NH2, C6H5NHCH3, (C2H5)2NH and CH6H5NH2

[CBSE 2010]

Q.8

Give chemical test to distinguish between C6H5CH2NH2 and C6H5NH2.

[CBSE 2010]

Q.9

Illustrate the following reactions giving a chemical equation in each case :

(i) Gabriel phthanlimide synthesis
(ii) A coupling reaction
(iii) Hoffmann's bromamide reaction.
(a) Explain why an alkylamine is more basic than ammonia.
(b) How would you convert
(i) Aniline to nitrobenzene
(ii) Aniline to iodobenzene ?

Q.6

Q.7

Q.10

Q.11
Q.12
Q.13

[CBSE 2011]

[CBSE 2011]

Arrange the following compound in an increasing order of their solubility in water.

C6H5NH2, (C2H5)2NH, C2H5NH2
[CBSE 2011]
Rearrange the following in an increasing order of their basic strengths :
C6H5NH2, C6H5N(CH3)2, (C6H5)2NH and CH3NH2
[CBSE 2011]
Why is an alkylamine more basic than ammonia
[CBSE 2011]

www.thinkiit.in

AMINES
Q.14 State reasons for the following :
(i) pKb value for aniline is more than that for methylamine.
(ii) Ethylamine is soluble in water whereas aniline is not soluble in water.
(iii) Primay amines have higher boiling points than tertiary amines.
Q.15

Q.16
Q.17

25

A hydrocarbon 'A', (C4H8) on reaction with HCl gives a compound 'B', (C4H9Cl), which on reaction with 1
mol of NH8 gives compound 'C', (C4H11N). On reacting with NaNO2 and HCl followed by treatment with
water, compound 'C' yields as optically active alcohol, 'D'. Ozonolysis of 'A' gives 2 moles of acetaldehyde.
Identify compounds 'A' to 'D'. Explain the reactions involved.
Write the structure of prop-2-en-1-amine.
[CBSE 2013]
Write the main products of the following reactions :
(i)

CH3CH2NH2
O

SCl + N - C2H5

(ii)

NH

(iii)

HNO2
0C

CH3CCl
Base

www.thinkiit.in

[CBSE 2013]