BRAINCAKEAmines as Nucleophiles
A nucleophile is an electron pair donor. Amines have a lone pair on the nitrogen, so they attack δ+ carbon atoms. AQA covers two types of reaction.
1. With halogenoalkanes: nucleophilic substitution. The amine's lone pair attacks the δ+ carbon of the C-X bond and the halide ion leaves. A primary amine therefore becomes a secondary amine:
CH3CH2NH2 + CH3CH2Br → (CH3CH2)2NH + HBr
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Key terms in this lesson
- nucleophilic addition-elimination
- A two-step mechanism in which a nucleophile first adds to the carbonyl carbon, then a leaving group is eliminated to reform the C=O bond.