Amines

Nomenclature 1o: RNH2, 2o: RR'NH, 3o: RR'R"N, 4o (salt) RR'R"R'"N+ R = alkyl or aryl Common names For simple amines name groups attached to N alphabetically; use suffix -amine. In complicated structures the prefix amino- may be used for primary amines. For secondary and tertiary amines the most complex group attached to the nitrogen is taken as parent and the N and remaining groups are named as an alkylamino group.

H3C N CH2CH3 H ethylmethylamine

H3C

CH CH CH3 NH2 2-amino-3-phenylbutane

H3C CH CH CH3 NCH3 CH2CH3 2-(ethylmethylamino)-3-phenylbutane

IUPAC Names -NH2 is considered a substituent, like chloro or nitro, and is called amino. It is located by number in the usual way. For secondary and tertiary amines, the largest alkyl group is taken as the parent. Smaller groups on N are prefixed to amino, and they, in turn, are prefixed by N-. Chemical Abstracts Names Similar to alcohols. Longest chain holding N provides parent name with -e of H3C CH CH CH3 alkane changed to -amine. NCH3 Chain is numbered as CH2CH3 usual; substituents on the chain are numbered. N -ethyl- N-methyl-3-phenyl-2-butanamine Substituents on the N get the prefix N-.
H3C CH CH CH3 NCH3 CH2CH3 2-( N-ethyl- N-methylamino)-3-phenylbutane

Aromatic amines are often named as derivatives of aniline, Ph-NH2.

Low molecular weight amines have fishy odors and in some cases may be quite unpleasant smelling. Two amines, found in rotting flesh, are named for their unpleasant odors H2N(CH2)4NH2, putrescine, and H2N(CH2)5NH2, cadaverine. "Alkaloids" are basic nitrogenous plant products. (Reference: Manske & Holmes, "The Alkaloids," Academic Press)

O H3C N N CH3 nicotine O N N

CH3 N N

CH3 caffeine

O OCPh O COCH3 H N N CH3 N cocaine lysergic acid CH3 COOH

Preparation of Amines
Reduction of Nitro Group For aromatic amines, reduction of a nitro group is a common method. (Although this method works for aliphatic compounds, the nitro group is less common in these compounds.)
ArNO 2 Sn, HCl ArNH 3 Cl
+ -

B:

ArNH 2 + BH + + Cl -

Ammonolysis of Halides
:B

RX + NH 3

RNH 3 X

RNH 2 + H-B + X

This reaction works best for 1o alkyl halides and may work for 2o halides, but for 3o halides CH3 H3C C X CH3 + NH3 CH3 H2C C CH3 + NH 4 X

Vinyl and aryl halides usually do not react. A severe limitation to ammonolysis in many cases is generation of other classes of amines

RX + NH 3 RNH 3 X + NH 3 RNH 2 + RX

RNH 3 X RNH 2 + NH 4 X R 2NH2 X R2 NH NH3 NH 3 R 3N R4N X

R2NH 2 X + NH 3 R 2NH R3N RX RX

+ NH 4 X

Preparation of Amines via Reduction A. Reduction of Amides

O R C N R' R" 1) LiAlH 4 2) H 2O R CH2 N R' R"

The R groups may be H, alkyl, or aryl. B. Reduction of Nitriles

R C N

H2, cat. or LiAlH4

R CH2 NH2

Reactions of Amines
Basicity of Amines
RNH 2 + stronger base RNH 3 + H3O RNH 3 + H2O weaker base H2O

OH stronger base

RNH 2 + weaker base

On a quantitative basis we may measure the basicity of an amine by its ability to accept a proton from water.

RNH2

H2O

RNH3

OH

Kb =

RNH3 OH RNH2

Factors which stabilize the ammonium ion, RNH3+, compared to the amine, RNH2, will increase Kb; factors which destabilize the ammonium ion compared to the amine will decrease Kb. [Sometimes the basicity of an amine, RNH2, is reported by giving the Ka of its protonated form, RNH3+. This Ka and Kb are inversely related.]

Name triethylamine ethylamine dimethylamine methylamine diethylamine trimethylamine ammonia aniline

Structure Et3N EtNH2 Me2NH MeNH2 Et2NH Me3N NH3 C6H5-NH2

pKb 2.99 3.19 3.27 3.34 3.51 4.19 4.74 9.37

Alkyl amines all have roughly the same basicity. Aryl amines, like aniline, are much less basic. Effect of Resonance on Basicity Aromatic amines are less basic than aliphatic amines, mostly because of resonance. The aromatic amine is more stabilized compared to its ammonium ion than an aliphatic amine is compared to its ammonium ion

NH2 aniline

NH2

NH2

NH2

NH2

NH3 anilinium ion

NH3 no other reasonable canonical structures

methylamine

H3C NH2

one reasonable canonical structure

methylammonium ion H3C

NH3 one reasonable canonical structure

Compound methylamine aniline diphenylamine triphenylamine

pKb 3.34 9.37 13.2 not basic

Amides are not basic at the nitrogen mostly because of resonance effects. The amide is stabilized relative to the protonated amide.
O R C NH2 R O C NH2 R O C NH3 no other reasonable canonical structures

On the other hand, amides are slightly basic at the carbonyl oxygen and much more basic at this position than other carbonyl compounds. This can also be explained by resonance. [In the table to the left, the most basic compound is at the top and the least basic is at the bottom. The conjugate acids of these bases are also shown, along with their pKas. The weakest conjugate acid is at the top of the list and the strongest is at the bottom.]

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As noted above, the reason for amide basicity at the oxygen can also be explained by resonance

O R C NH2 R

O C NH2 R charge separation

O C NH2 charge separation one less bond O H R C NH2 one less bond

O H R C NH2

O H R C NH2

The two resonance structures shown on the right for the amide are not as good as the two comparable structures for the amide protonated on the oxygen, owing to charge separation. More Reactions of Amines Nitration of Aromatic Amines -NH2 is an o, p-directing activating group for electrophilic substitution. However,

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NH2 HNO 3 H2SO 4

NH2 + NO2

NH2

+ tar (oxidation) NO2

60-70% Reason: NH2 H

30-40% NH3 meta, deactivator

This problem can be avoided by protecting the amino group by acetylation, nitrating, and deprotecting the amino group by hydrolysis of the amide.

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Sulfonation of Aromatic Amines

a zwitterion

SO3

weaker base

SO 3H stronger acid
NH2

Certain N-substituted amides of sulfanilic acid, sulfanilamides, are bacteriostatic and are known as sulfa drugs. Sulfathiazole is shown. Sulfa drugs were widely used as broadspectrum antibacterials before penicillin.
S

SO2 NH N

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Reactions of Amines with Nitrous Acid [Nitrous acid, HONO, is not stable and is generated in situ from an acid and sodium nitrite: NaNO2 + HCl > HONO + NaCl.] Primary aromatic amines give diazonium salts
Ar NH2 + HONO + HCl Ar N N Cl + 2 H 2O

a diazonium salt

Primary aliphatic amines give diazonium salts but these compounds are unstable and decompose.
R NH2 + HONO + HCl R N N Cl a diazonium salt R N N Cl R + N2 alkenes, alcohols, etc. + Cl + 2 H 2O

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Secondary aliphatic or aromatic amines give N-nitrosamines

Tertiary Aromatic Amines

p-nitroso-N,N-dimethylaniline

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Aromatic Diazonium Salts Named by adding -diazonium to the name of the aromatic compound from which they are derived, followed by the anion name. Physical properties --crystalline solids, soluble in water, explosive in solid state.
N2 Br m-ethoxybenzenediazonium bromide

N N a diazonium salt OC2H5

Preparation
0o C Ar NH2 + NaNO 2 + 2 HCl 1o aromatic amine Ar N N Cl a diazonium salt

+ 2 H 2O +

NaCl

The solution of diazonium salt must be used immediately because it slowly decomposes.

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Reactions of Aromatic Diazonium Salts Replacement of N2 Ar-N2+ + :Z ------> Ar-Z 1)

N2

Replacement by -Cl, -Br, -CN: the Sandmeyer reaction These reactions may CuCl or ArCl + N2 proceed through Cu + HCl free radical mechanisms. CuBr or Ar-N2 ArBr + N2 The nitrile synthesis Cu + HBr can lead to aromatic CuCN ArCN + N2 carboxylic acids via hydrolysis. Reaction of a diazonium salt with I- produces an aryl iodide Aryl diazonium salts react with water to produce phenols ArN2+ X- + H2O -------> ArOH + N2 + H+ This is a side reaction whenever diazonium salts are formed in aqueous solutions. To prepare phenols the cold solution of diazonium salt is slowly added to boiling dilute sulfuric acid. This minimizes the formation of Ar-N=N-Ar-OH. [See coupling below.]

2)

3)

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5)

Replacement of -N2+ by -H
H3PO2 + H2 O ArH + N2 + H3PO3 + HX HONO H3PO2

Ar-N2 X + Overall: Ar-H

HNO3 H2SO4

Ar-NO2

Sn HCl

Ar-NH 2

Ar-N 2

Ar-H

However, the -NO 2 and -NH2 groups can be used for directing purposes, eg prepare m-bromotoluene
CH3 CH3 CH3 CH3

NO2

NH2

NH C O

CH3

CH3

CH3

CH3

CH3

Br

Br N2 Cl
+ -

Br NH2

Br NH C O CH3

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Coupling The Synthesis of Azo Compounds Ar-N2+ X- + Ar'H -----> Ar-N=N-Ar' + HX

Usually Ar'H must contain a powerful electron releasing group eg -OH or -NR2. Azo compounds are often used as dyes. They are colored owing to extensive conjugation. For example, butter yellow was at one time used to color margarine yellow. It has been found to be carcinogenic and is no longer used for this purpose.

N(CH3)2

butter yellow

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