Detailed Summary
Amines are an essential class of organic compounds formed by the replacement of hydrogen atoms in ammonia (NH₃) with alkyl or aryl groups. This section explains the classification of amines as primary (1°), secondary (2°), and tertiary (3°) based on the number of hydrogen atoms replaced. Primary amines have one hydrogen replaced (RNH₂), secondary amines have two replaced (R₂NH), while tertiary amines have all three hydrogens substituted (R₃N).
The naming is simplified in the common system, where the alkyl group is prefixed to 'amine' (like methylamine), and follows the IUPAC system which specifies that primary amines are named as alkanamines, secondary and tertiary amines are designated with 'N' locants.
Methods of preparation for amines include: reduction of nitro compounds, ammonolysis of alkyl halides, reduction of nitriles and amides, Gabriel phthalimide synthesis, and the Hofmann bromamide degradation reaction. The section emphasizes the importance of diazonium salts formed from primary aromatic amines, as they serve as critical intermediates in synthesizing aromatic compounds and azo dyes.