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🕊️ Amines & Nitrogen Compounds ​

Nitrogen compounds showcase lone-pair basicity, nucleophilicity, and the versatile synthetic power of aryldiazonium salts (Ar−N2+X−). High-yield exam topics include aliphatic vs aromatic amine basicity, Gabriel phthalimide limitations, Hoffmann bromamide retention of stereochemistry, and Sandmeyer vs Gattermann vs Azo dye coupling.


1. 🧪 Synthesis of Primary Amines ​

1.1 Gabriel Phthalimide Synthesis ​

Phthalimide→KOHPotassium Phthalimide→R−X(SN2)N-Alkylphthalimide→H3O+ or NH2NH2R−NH2(Pure 1∘ aliphatic amine)
  • Major Limitation: Aromatic 1circ amines (Aniline) CANNOT be prepared by this method because aryl halides do not undergo nucleophilic substitution (SN2) with phthalimide anion!

1.2 Hoffmann Bromamide Degradation Reaction ​

Conversion of 1circ acid amide into 1circ amine containing one less carbon atom:

R−CONH2+Br2+4KOH→ΔR−NH2+K2CO3+2KBr+2H2O
  • Intermediate Involved: Alkyl Isocyanate (R−N=C=O).
  • Stereochemistry: The migration of alkyl/aryl group R from carbonyl carbon to nitrogen proceeds with 100% retention of configuration at the migrating chiral center!

2. 🔍 Distinction of 1circ,2circ,3circ Amines: The Hinsberg Test ​

Reagent: Benzene Sulfonyl Chloride (Ph−SO2Cl)
  • 1circ Amine (R−NH2): Forms N-alkyl benzene sulfonamide (Ph−SO2NHR), which contains an acidic hydrogen attached to nitrogen implies Soluble in aqueous KOH. Acidification precipitates it back.
  • 2circ Amine (R2NH): Forms N,N-dialkyl benzene sulfonamide (Ph−SO2NR2), which has no acidic hydrogen on nitrogen implies Insoluble in aqueous KOH.
  • 3circ Amine (R3N): Has no replaceable hydrogen on nitrogen implies Does NOT react with Hinsberg reagent.

3. 🌈 Aryl Diazonium Salts (Ar−N2+Cl−) & Synthetic Transformations ​

Preparation by Diazotization:

Ph−NH2+NaNO2+2HCl→0−5∘CPh−N2+Cl−+NaCl+2H2O

Key Reactions of Benzene Diazonium Chloride: ​

  • Sandmeyer Reaction (CuCl/HCl,CuBr/HBr,CuCN/KCN): Yields Chlorobenzene, Bromobenzene, Benzonitrile.
  • Gattermann Reaction (Cu/HCl,Cu/HBr): Yields Chlorobenzene, Bromobenzene.
  • Schiemann Reaction (HBF4,Δ): Yields pure Fluorobenzene (Ph−F).
  • Replacement by Iodide (KI,warm): Yields Iodobenzene (Ph−I).
  • Reduction to Benzene: Using Hypophosphorous acid (H3PO2+H2O) or Ethanol (CH3CH2OH).
  • Hydrolysis to Phenol: Warming with water (H2O/100∘C).
  • Azo Coupling Reaction (Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution):
    • With Phenol at alkaline pH 9−10⟹ p-Hydroxyazobenzene (Brilliant Orange Dye).
    • With Aniline at mildly acidic pH 4−5⟹ p-Aminoazobenzene (Yellow Dye).