Question
Chemistry Question on Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids
Acetamide is treated with the following reagents separately. Which one of these would yield methyl amine?
A
NaOH−Br2
B
Sodalime
C
Hot conc. H2SO4
D
PCl5
Answer
NaOH−Br2
Explanation
Solution
The reagent which can convert -CONH2 group into - NH2 group is used for this reaction. Among the given reagents only NaOH/Br2 converts -CONH2 group to - NH2 group, thus it is used for converting acetamide to methyl amine.
This reaction is called Hoffmann bromamide reaction, in which primary amides on treatment with
Br2/NaOH form primary amines. CH3CONH2+NaOH+Br2⟶CH3NH2 AcetamideMethylamine +NaBr+Na2CO3+H2O