Question

A primary amine, RNH₂ can be reacted with CH₃-X to get secondary amine, R-NHCH₃ but the only disadvantage is that 3° amine and quaternary ammonium salts are also obtained as side products.Can you suggest a method where RNH₂ forms only 2^o amine ?

Answer 1

Carbylamine reaction is shown by 1° amine only which result in the replacement of two hydrogen atome attached to N atom of -NH2 group by one carbon atom to form isocyanide. On catalytic reduction, the isocyanide will give a secondary amine with one methyl group.