Question

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 1

The correct option is (a).

Explanation:

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 Hoffman bromide reaction.  

CH₃CONH₂ + NaOH  + Br₂ --> CH₃NH₂ + NaBr + Na₂CO₃ + H₂O  

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 Hoffman bromide reaction.  

CH₃CONH₂ + NaOH  + Br₂ --> CH₃NH₂ + NaBr + Na₂CO₃ + H₂O