How do you form imines?

1 Answer
anor277
Aug 1, 2016

By a condensation reaction:

"Ketone + amine "rarr " Imine + water"Ketone + amine → Imine + water

Explanation:

Typically, the amine and the ketone are heated at reflux in toluene or benzene in a Dean Stark trap. The distillate, which contains the solvent, and water as an azeotrope, collects in the trap, where the water content may be measured, and extent of reaction determined.

R_2C(=O) + H_2NR'' rarr R_2C=NR'' + H_2O.

There are many variations on this theme. Sometimes, a reagent (such as TiCl_4) is added to react with the water produced. The reaction between amine and ketone is slow; the reaction between amine and aldehyde is rapid. Why should this be?

Related questions
See all questions in Quick Introduction of Structures
Impact of this question
1595 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License