

AMINES 125 



(3) by the reduction of oximes : 



CH 3 . CH : NOH + 2 H 2 = CH 3 . CH, . NH 2 + H a O ; 



(4) by the action of bromine on an amide : 



CH 3 . CO . NH 2 + Br 2 = CH 3 . CO . NHBr + HBr, 

 Acetobromamide 



and the decomposition of the bromamide by heating with excess of 

 sodium hydroxide. Hydrobromic acid is removed and an isocyanate 

 is formed : 



CH 3 . CO . NHBr + NaOH = CH 3 . N . CO + NaBr + H,O 



Methyl 

 isocyanate. 



the isocyanate on hydrolysis gives the primary amine : 

 CH 3 . N . CO + 2NaOH = CH 3 . NH 2 + Na 2 CO 3 . 



This reaction serves for passing from a higher series of compounds 

 to a lower one containing one atom of carbon less in the molecule. 



Diamines. 



Dihalogen derivatives yield diamines in a similar manner : 



CH 2 Br CH.J.NH,, 



+ 2NH 3 =| " + 2HBr 



CH 2 Br CHo.NH 2 



Ethylene 

 diamine. 



The two compounds, putrescine and cadaver'me, are products of the 

 putrefaction of the corresponding diamino acids, ornithine and lysine : 

 CH 2 . NH 2 CH 2 . NH 2 



CH 2 CH 2 



CH 2 CH 2 



CH 2 . NH 2 CH 2 



CH 2 . NH 2 

 Putrescine. Cadaverine. 



The isolation of amines from natural sources involves a com- 

 plicated process of extraction, precipitation, etc., depending on the 

 formation of double salts with mercuric chloride, gold chloride, 

 platinic chloride, etc. Full 'details can be found in Barger's Mono- 

 graph " The Simple Natural Bases ". 



Properties. 



The lower members, whether primary, secondary, or tertiary, are 

 gases, the next members are liquids, the highest members are solids. 

 They have a characteristic and peculiar smell, which is pungent like 

 ammonia and ''fishy " in the lower members. The lower members are 

 easily soluble in water and closely resemble ammonia. 



Like ammonia they are strong bases which turn red litmus blue and 

 unite with acids to form salts. These salts are frequently deliquescent, 

 and generally soluble in water, sometimes in alcohol, chloroform and 



