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Reactivity of Amines

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    The reactivity of amines is similar to ammonia: amines are basic, nucleophilic, and react with alkyl halides, acid chlorides, and carbonyl compounds. Additionally, aromatic amines are highly reactive in electrophilic aromatic substitution.

    • Amines as Bases
      This page looks at the reactions of amines as bases. Their basic properties include the reactions with dilute acids, water and copper(II) ions.
    • Amines as Nucleophiles
      A nucleophile is something which is attracted to, and then attacks, a positive or slightly positive part of another molecule or ion. All amines contain an active lone pair of electrons on the very electronegative nitrogen atom. It is these electrons which are attracted to positive parts of other molecules or ions.
    • Amine Reactions
      Ammonia and many amines are not only bases in the Brønsted sense, they are also nucleophiles that bond to and form products with a variety of electrophiles.
    • Reactions of Aryl Diazonium Salts
      Aryl diazonium salts are important intermediates. They are prepared in cold (0 º to 10 ºC) aqueous solution, and generally react with nucleophiles with loss of nitrogen.
    • Reaction of Amines with Nitrous Acid
      Nitrous acid reacts with aliphatic amines in a fashion that provides a useful test for distinguishing primary, secondary and tertiary amines.
    • Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Amines
    • The Reaction of Amines with Nitrous Acid


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