BRAINCAKEPreparing Aromatic Amines
Aromatic amines are made by reducing aromatic nitro compounds. The key example is making phenylamine from nitrobenzene.
Step 1: reduction. Nitrobenzene is heated under reflux with tin and concentrated hydrochloric acid. The tin and acid act as the reducing agent. Because the mixture is strongly acidic, the amine formed is protonated, so the product at this stage is the salt phenylammonium chloride, C6H5NH3+Cl−.
Step 2: release the amine. Sodium hydroxide solution is added to remove the proton and release free phenylamine, which can then be separated (for example by steam distillation).
Sign in free to see the rest of this lesson, the R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps and the quiz
BrainCake is free. Make an account in seconds and pick up where this page stops.