In aqueous medium, the basicity of amines is influenced by several factors, including steric hindrance and the ability to stabilize the positive charge on the ammonium ion formed upon protonation. The relative basicity of various amines can be explained as follows:
Thus, in aqueous medium, the most basic amine is the primary amine, C2H5NH2. The presence of alkyl groups in primary amines allows for better solvation and protonation, enhancing their basicity.
To determine the least basic amine among the options provided, we analyze the effects of alkyl groups on basicity in aqueous medium:
Conclusion: In aqueous medium, trimethylamine ((CH3)3N) is the least basic due to significant steric hindrance, which limits effective solvation and protonation.
In the gaseous phase, trimethylamine ((CH3)3N) is the most basic amine due to the strong electron-donating effect of the three methyl groups, which increase the electron density on the nitrogen atom. This makes the nitrogen more likely to donate electrons to a proton, enhancing its basicity.
Despite the presence of steric hindrance from the bulky methyl groups, which can prevent efficient protonation in some environments, trimethylamine still exhibits greater basicity compared to primary and secondary amines in the gaseous phase. This is because the electron-donating groups (methyl groups) play a more significant role in enhancing the nucleophilicity of the nitrogen atom.
In contrast, in aqueous solutions, steric hindrance becomes a more prominent factor, reducing the ability of trimethylamine to interact effectively with protons. As a result, its basicity decreases in comparison to primary amines, such as methylamine (CH3NH2).
Overall, while trimethylamine’s steric hindrance can limit its protonation in certain conditions, its strong electron-donating effect in the gaseous phase makes it the most basic amine in that environment.
The basic strength of amines in aqueous medium is influenced by various factors, each contributing to the overall reactivity of the nitrogen atom in the amine group. These factors include:
Thus, the conjugation effect does not contribute significantly to the basic strength of amines in aqueous medium, unlike inductive and solvation effects.
Hinsberg's reagent, which is benzenesulphonyl chloride (C₆H₅SO₂Cl), is a crucial chemical used to differentiate primary, secondary, and tertiary amines based on their distinct reactivity patterns. The reaction outcomes are as follows:
Thus, benzenesulphonyl chloride is an effective reagent for distinguishing primary, secondary, and tertiary amines based on the solubility and nature of the products formed.
Amines have a lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom, due to which they behave as Lewis bases. Greater the value of \( K_b \) or smaller the value of \( pK_b \), stronger is the base. Amines are more basic than alcohols, ethers, esters, etc. The basic character of aliphatic amines should increase with the increase of alkyl substitution. However, it does not occur in a regular manner, as a secondary aliphatic amine is unexpectedly more basic than a tertiary amine in aqueous solutions. Aromatic amines are weaker bases than ammonia and aliphatic amines. Electron-releasing groups such as \( -CH_3 \), \( -NH_2 \), etc., increase the basicity, while electron-withdrawing substituents such as \( -NO_2 \), \( -CN \), halogens, etc., decrease the basicity of amines. The effect of these substituents is more pronounced at the para-position than at the meta-position.
(a) Arrange the following in increasing order of their basic character. Give reason:
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