| Qu1: | |
| (a)
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The amide ion is the strongest base since it has two pairs of non-bonding electrons (more electron-electron repulsion) compared to ammonia which only has one. Ammonium is not basic since it has no lone pair to donate as a base. |
| (b)
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| (c)
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| (d)
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Piperidine is the most basic (conjugate acid pKa = 11.2). The lone pair is in an sp3 hybrid orbital and there is no resonance (no p system). In pyridine (conjugate acid pKa = 5.2) the N lone pair is in an sp2 hybrid orbital but is not part of the 6p electron aromatic system nor is it involved in any resonance (perpendicular). The sp2 hybrid is smaller than the sp3 hybrid, so there is a stronger attraction to the nucleus, so less basic. In aniline (conjugate acid pKa = 5.2), the N lone pair can interact with the p system of the aromatic ring which makes them less available for donation . In pyrrole is a very weak base (conjugate acid pKa = -4). The N lone pair is involved in the 6p electron aromatic system. Protonation will destroy the aromaticity of the 6p electron aromatic system and this makes it an unfavourable process. |
| Qu2: | |
Nitriles, R-CºN, are reduced to 1o amines by conversion of the R-CºN to R-CH2-NH2 so the product would 1-aminopentane. |
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Benzyl bromide is an alkyl halide and will therefore undergo nucleophilic substitution by the nucleophilic N of ammonia giving benzylamine. |
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Toluene undergoes nitration to give mainly para-nitrotoluene. Reduction of the nitro group gives the amine, para-aminotoluene (or para-methylaniline if you prefer). |
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Cyclohexanone, a ketone, will react with a secondary amine to give an enamine (more stable alkene preferred) which on catalytic hydrogenation reduces to the tertiary amine, N,N-dimethylaminocyclohexane. |
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| Qu3: | First, note that we have a homologous series of C2 to C4 amines we are trying to make. |
| Here is a scheme collecting possible syntheses together. These are based on important reactions and to be short syntheses. | |
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| (a) 1-aminoethane : we can't add NH3 directly to
the alkene, so introduce a halogen, bromide is a good choice as it is a
good leaving group then substitute using excess ammonia.
(b) 1-aminopropane : we need to add a C atom to get from C2 to C3. For an amine a good way to do that is via the nitrile. So after preparing ethyl bromide, nucleophilic substitution with NaCN ( in a polar aprotic solvent such as DMSO) will give the nitrile which can be reduced to the amine. (c) 1-aminobutane : now we need to add 2C to get to C4.... addition of the Grignard ethyl magnesium bromide to ethylene oxide gives 1-butanol. Ammonia will not react with an alcohol to give substitution (poor leaving group), our best choice here is either to convert the alcohol to the bromide or we could use a tosylate (both better leaving groups) then substitute with the ammonia. |
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| Qu4: | In each of the reactions the primary amine is the nucleophilic species reacting with a variety of electrophiles..... |
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| Qu5: | In each of the reactions the secondary amine is the nucleophilic species reacting with a variety of electrophiles..... |
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| Qu6: | These examples reveal some of the interesting aspects involving amines and aromatic compounds...... |
| (a)
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In order to get the two ortho- / para- directing halogens meta- to each other we need to utilise the chemistry of diazonium salts by introducing the first halogen at the nitro stage. This route is especially useful for getting the iodide substitutent. |
| (b)
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To prepare an amide we need to plan to get the carboxylic acid and the amine. We can prepare the acid by the reaction of carbon dioxide with the Grignard of bromobenzene. Alternative routes to the acid could be the oxidation of an alkyl benzene prepared by alkylation (not shown). |
| (c)
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A good route to phenols is via the hydrolysis of the diazonium salt prepared via the conversion of the nitro group to aniline. |
| (d)
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In order to limit the reaction to monobromination, we first prepare the less reactive amide, then brominate, then hydrolyse the amide to the required aniline. |