Question

Write one chemical reaction each to illustrate the following

1. Hoffmann’s bromamide reaction

2. Gabriel phthalimide synthesis

Answer 1

1. Hofmann’s bromamide reaction

Involves heating of an amide with bromine and caustic alkali to yield an amine with one carbon less than original amide.

2. Gabriel phthalimide synthesis

Reaction between alkyl halide (R - X) and ammonia gives mixture, of 1°, 2° and 3° amines with tetraalkyl ammonium halide. Mixture is not separable.

To get pure 1° amine, Gabriel phthalimide synthesis is preferred.