Question

Amines are usually formed from amides, imides, halides, nitro compounds, etc. They exhibit hydrogen bonding which influences their physical properties. In alkyl amines, a combination of electron releasing, steric and H-bonding factors influence the stability of the substituted ammonium cations in protic polar solvents and thus affect the basic nature of amines. Alkyl amines are found to be stronger bases than ammonia. Amines being basic in nature, react with acids to form salts. Aryldiazonium salts, undergo replacement of the diazonium group with a variety of nucleophiles to produce aryl halides, cyanides, phenols and arenes.

How can you convert the following:
(i) Ethanoic acid to methanamine

Hint:

Reduction of carboxylic acids can be achieved using reducing agents such as LiAlH$_4$ or diborane (B$_2$H$_6$).

Answer 1

To convert ethanoic acid to methanamine, reduce ethanoic acid to methanamine using an appropriate reducing agent. The reduction of the carboxyl group (–COOH) to an amine group (–NH$_2$) can be achieved by using a reducing agent like lithium aluminium hydride (LiAlH$_4$).