Amines

Amines

Bonds with nitrogen

Primary amine

Nitrogen bonded to two hydrogens, one carbon

. Primary Amines (1°)

General structure: R–NH₂
Only one alkyl group is attached to the nitrogen.

Naming:

• Take the name of the alkyl group and add "amine"

• If there's a chain, use alkan-amine

🔹 Examples:

• CH₃NH₂ → Methylamine

• CH₃CH₂NH₂ → Ethylamine

• CH₃CH₂CH₂NH₂ → Propan-1-amine

If the amine is not on carbon 1, you must number it:

• CH₃CH(NH₂)CH₃ → Propan-2-amine

Secondary amine

Nitrogen bonded with two carbons, one hydrogen

2. Secondary Amines (2°)

General structure: R–NH–R′
Two alkyl groups attached to nitrogen.

Naming:

• If the two alkyl groups are the same → di prefix

  • CH₃NHCH₃ → Dimethylamine

• If the groups are different → name the larger group as the parent and the smaller as N-substituent

🔹 Example:

• CH₃CH₂NHCH₃ → N-methylethanamine

Tertiary amine

Nitrogen bonded to three carbons

General structure: R–N(R′)(R″)
Three alkyl groups attached to nitrogen.

Naming:

• Name the largest chain as the base

• Add smaller groups as N-substituents

🔹 Example:

• N,N-dimethylethanamine (CH₃CH₂N(CH₃)₂)