The best reagent for converting 2-phenylpropanamide into 2-phenylpropanamine is __. (i) excess H₂ (ii) Br₂ in

NCERT Exemplar · Q10

Q. The best reagent for converting 2-phenylpropanamide into 2-phenylpropanamine is ____.

(i) excess

H_2

(ii)

Br_2

in aqueous NaOH

(iii) iodine in the presence of red phosphorus

(iv)

LiAlH_4

in ether

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Concept understanding — Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions

Nucleophilic Addition – From Intuition to Precision

Imagine you have a molecule with a carbon–oxygen double bond — a carbonyl group ( $\ce{C=O}$ ). That oxygen is greedy for electrons; it pulls them away from carbon, leaving the carbon slightly positive ( $\delta^+$ ) and the oxygen slightly negative ( $\delta^-$ ). Now, if you bring a species that is rich in electrons (a nucleophile, meaning "nucleus-loving"), it will naturally be attracted to that electron-deficient carbon. The nucleophile attacks the carbon, the $\pi$ bond breaks, and the oxygen picks up a proton (or some other electrophile) to become stable. That, in a nutshell, is nucleophilic addition.

Note

The key idea: a nucleophile adds across a polar multiple bond (usually $\ce{C=O}$ or $\ce{C≡N}$ ), breaking the $\pi$ bond and forming two new sigma bonds.

The Precise Statement

Nucleophilic addition is a reaction in which a nucleophile (an electron-rich species) forms a sigma bond with an electrophilic carbon atom of a polar multiple bond (typically a carbonyl group, $\ce{C=O}$ , or a nitrile, $\ce{C≡N}$ ), while the $\pi$ bond breaks. The resulting intermediate then captures a proton (or another electrophile) to give a neutral product.

In general form:

\ce{R2C=O + Nu^- ->[H^+] R2C(OH)Nu}

The nucleophile ( $\ce{Nu^-}$ ) attacks the carbonyl carbon; the oxygen becomes negatively charged; then a proton ( $\ce{H^+}$ ) from the medium attaches to the oxygen, yielding an alcohol.

Why It Happens – The Driving Force

The carbonyl carbon is electrophilic because:

Oxygen is more electronegative than carbon, so the $\ce{C=O}$ bond is polarised: $\ce{C^{\delta+}=O^{\delta-}}$ .
The $\pi$ bond is weaker than a $\sigma$ bond, so it can break relatively easily.

A nucleophile (like $\ce{OH^-}$ , $\ce{CN^-}$ , or $\ce{NH3}$ ) has a lone pair or a negative charge. It seeks positive centres. The attack forms a new $\sigma$ bond, and the $\pi$ electrons move entirely to oxygen, creating an alkoxide ion ( $\ce{R2C-O^-}$ ). This intermediate is then quenched by a proton.

Watch out

A common mistake: thinking the nucleophile attacks the oxygen. No — oxygen is already electron-rich; the nucleophile goes to the carbon because it is electron-deficient.

A Concrete Example – Addition of HCN to a Ketone

Take acetone ( $\ce{CH3COCH3}$ ) and hydrogen cyanide ( $\ce{HCN}$ ). In the presence of a base, $\ce{CN^-}$ (the nucleophile) attacks the carbonyl carbon:

\ce{CH3COCH3 + CN^- -> CH3C(O^-)(CN)CH3}

The alkoxide intermediate then picks up a proton from $\ce{HCN}$ (or from water) to give a cyanohydrin:

\ce{CH3C(O^-)(CN)CH3 + H^+ -> CH3C(OH)(CN)CH3}

The product is acetone cyanohydrin. Notice: two new sigma bonds formed ( $\ce{C-CN}$ and $\ce{O-H}$ ), and the $\pi$ bond is gone.

What Makes a Good Nucleophile?

Strong nucleophiles are usually negatively charged or have lone pairs:

$\ce{OH^-}$ , $\ce{CN^-}$ , $\ce{NH2^-}$ , $\ce{CH3O^-}$ , $\ce{H^-}$ (from hydride reagents like $\ce{NaBH4}$ or $\ce{LiAlH4}$ )
Neutral but polarisable: $\ce{NH3}$ , $\ce{H2O}$ (weaker, but can add under acidic conditions) …

Why this formula?

Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions: Why the Key Formulas Hold

Nucleophilic substitution reactions are a cornerstone of organic chemistry. Instead of just memorizing the rate laws, let's understand why they arise from the molecular events.

1. The Two Main Mechanisms: A Tale of Timing

The key formulas (rate laws) for nucleophilic substitution come directly from how many molecules are involved in the rate-determining step (RDS) — the slowest step that controls the overall reaction speed.

SN1: Unimolecular — The Leaving Group Goes First

The Rate Law:

\text{Rate} = k[\text{RX}]

Why?

The reaction happens in two steps:

Slow step (RDS): The C–X bond breaks spontaneously, forming a carbocation intermediate. Only the substrate ( $\text{RX}$ ) is involved.

\text{RX} \xrightarrow{\text{slow}} \text{R}^+ + \text{X}^-

Fast step: The nucleophile ( $\text{Nu}^-$ ) attacks the carbocation.

\text{R}^+ + \text{Nu}^- \xrightarrow{\text{fast}} \text{RNu}

Since the slow step depends only on the concentration of $\text{RX}$ , the rate law has no dependence on $[\text{Nu}^-]$ . The nucleophile arrives after the carbocation is formed — it cannot affect the speed of the first step.

Key insight: The rate is determined by how easily the leaving group leaves, not by how fast the nucleophile attacks.

SN2: Bimolecular — Simultaneous Attack and Departure

The Rate Law:

\text{Rate} = k[\text{RX}][\text{Nu}^-]

Why?

The reaction occurs in one concerted step:

The nucleophile attacks the carbon from one side at the same time as the leaving group departs from the opposite side.
Both $\text{RX}$ and $\text{Nu}^-$ must collide with the correct orientation and sufficient energy.

The rate depends on the frequency of productive collisions between the two molecules. This is directly proportional to the product of their concentrations:

\text{Rate} \propto [\text{RX}] \times [\text{Nu}^-]

Key insight: Both partners are involved in the transition state simultaneously — if either is missing, the reaction cannot proceed.

2. The Transition State: Why the Formulas Are Not Just "Given"

For SN2, the transition state has a pentavalent carbon (five bonds partially formed/broken). The energy barrier depends on steric hindrance — bulkier groups around carbon make it harder for the nucleophile to approach, which is why SN2 is favored at primary carbons. …

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The conversion of an amide to an primary amine requires a strong reducing agent that can break the C=O bond without affecting the rest of the molecule. $LiAlH_4$ in ether does this cleanly, giving 2-phenylpropanamine in high yield. The correct answer is (D).

This is a classic functional group transformation: turning an amide into an primary amine. The key is to recognise that the amide group ( $-CONH_2$ ) must be reduced to a $-CH_2NH_2$ group, while leaving the benzene ring and the alkyl side chain untouched.

Let’s look at each option carefully.

Option (A): excess $H_2$

Hydrogen gas alone is not a reducing agent for amides. Even with a metal catalyst (like Pd/C or Ni), $H_2$ typically reduces alkenes, alkynes, nitro groups, and nitriles — but not amides. The amide carbonyl is quite stable toward catalytic hydrogenation under normal conditions. So this won’t work.
Option (B): $Br_2$ in aqueous NaOH

This is the Hoffmann bromamide degradation reaction. It converts an amide into a primary amine with one fewer carbon atom — because the carbonyl carbon is lost as $CO_2$ .

For 2-phenylpropanamide ( $C_6H_5-CH(CH_3)-CONH_2$ ), this would give 1-phenylethanamine ( $C_6H_5-CH(CH_3)-NH_2$ ), which is not 2-phenylpropanamine. The carbon skeleton changes. So this is wrong for the target product.
Option (C): iodine in the presence of red phosphorus

This combination is used for the conversion of alcohols to alkyl iodides (the HI/P method). It has no application in amide reduction. Red phosphorus and iodine generate $HI$ in situ, which can reduce some functional groups, but amides are not affected in this way. This is a distractor.
Option (D): $LiAlH_4$ in ether …

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Let’s break this down step-by-step — first the concept, then the common mistakes, and finally how to avoid each.

🧪 The Core Concept

You are converting an amide into an amine.

2-phenylpropanamide is a primary amide ( $\ce{R-CONH2}$ ).
2-phenylpropanamine is a primary amine ( $\ce{R-CH2NH2}$ ).

The reaction needed is reduction of the amide to the amine.

✓ Correct Reagent

The best reagent here is:

(D) $\ce{LiAlH4}$ in ether

Why?

$\ce{LiAlH4}$ reduces amides cleanly to amines.

The reaction is:

\ce{R-CONH2 + LiAlH4 -> R-CH2NH2}

No other option does this transformation correctly.

✗ Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Each

1. Choosing excess $\ce{H2}$ (Option A)

Mistake:

Thinking catalytic hydrogenation reduces amides to amines.

Why it’s wrong:

$\ce{H2}$ with a metal catalyst (like Pd, Pt, Ni) reduces alkenes, alkynes, nitro groups, and nitriles — but not amides. Amides are very stable to hydrogenation.

How to avoid:

Remember:

$\ce{H2}$ /catalyst does not reduce the $\ce{C=O}$ of an amide. Only strong hydride donors like $\ce{LiAlH4}$ can do that.

2. Choosing $\ce{Br2}$ in aqueous NaOH (Option B)

Mistake:

Confusing this with the Hofmann rearrangement (which converts amides to amines with one fewer carbon).

Why it’s wrong:

$\ce{Br2}$ /NaOH on an amide gives a primary amine with loss of one carbon (as $\ce{CO2}$ ).

Here, the product would be 1-phenylethanamine, not 2-phenylpropanamine.

How to avoid:

Check the carbon count:

Starting amide: 9 carbons (phenyl + 3-carbon chain)
Hofmann product: 8 carbons (loses the carbonyl carbon)
Desired amine: 9 carbons (same chain length)

If the carbon skeleton must stay the same, do not use Hofmann rearrangement.

3. Choosing iodine + red phosphorus (Option C)

Mistake:

Thinking this reduces amides.

Why it’s wrong:

Iodine + red phosphorus is used to reduce alcohols to alkyl iodides (or sometimes carboxylic acids to alkyl iodides). It does not reduce amides to amines.

How to avoid:

Know the specific uses:

$\ce{I2}$ /red P → alcohols → alkyl halides …

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Same / Similar Concept — real previous-year questions on the same or a closely similar concept, not this exact question.

TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-10-FN1 markMCQ
$\mathrm{C_6H_5N(CH_3)_2}$
›Reveal solutionSolution
The pair is a tertiary amine and a secondary amine. Only Hinsberg's reagent, $\mathrm{C_6H_5SO_2Cl}$ (option A), separates them: the secondary amine gives an alkali-insoluble sulphonamide, the tertiary amine does not react.

The concept first

Before choosing a reagent, classify the two compounds:

$\mathrm{C_6H_5N(CH_3)_2}$ ( $N,N$ -dimethylaniline): the nitrogen carries three carbon groups → tertiary amine, no N–H.

$\mathrm{(C_2H_5)_2NH}$ (diethylamine): the nitrogen carries two carbon groups and one H → secondary amine, one N–H.

So you need a test that distinguishes $2^\circ$ from $3^\circ$ — i.e. a test that keys off the presence of an N–H bond, not off basicity.

Hinsberg's test does exactly that. Benzenesulphonyl chloride acylates the nitrogen, but only if there is an N–H available:

$1^\circ$ amine → $\mathrm{C_6H_5SO_2NHR}$ . The N–H left over is made acidic by the two electron-withdrawing $\mathrm{S{=}O}$ groups → the sulphonamide dissolves in KOH/NaOH.

$2^\circ$ amine → $\mathrm{C_6H_5SO_2NR_2}$ . No N–H remains, so the sulphonamide is a solid that is insoluble in alkali.

$3^\circ$ amine → no reaction (no N–H to substitute); the amine remains as an oily layer, dissolving only on adding acid.

Step-by-step

Test option (D), $\mathrm{CHCl_3}$ + alc. KOH (carbylamine). It gives the foul-smelling isocyanide only with primary amines. Both compounds here are non-primary → both give a negative test → cannot distinguish. ✗

Test option (B), anhy. $\mathrm{ZnCl_2}$ + conc. HCl (Lucas reagent). This is a test for alcohols (distinguishing $1^\circ$ / $2^\circ$ / $3^\circ$ ROH by turbidity). Amines are not alcohols. ✗ …
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TG EAPCET 2024Set ap-2024-05-08-FN1 markMCQ
$\mathrm{C_7H_9N}$
›Reveal solutionSolution
The alkali-insoluble benzenesulphonamide tells us Y must be a secondary amine, which fixes $\mathrm{Y}=\mathrm{C_6H_5NHCH_3}$ ; a secondary amine of this shape arises from catalytic reduction of an isocyanide, so $\mathrm{X}=\mathrm{H_2/Ni}$ . Option (D).

The concept: why alkali-solubility identifies the class of amine

When an amine reacts with a sulphonyl chloride (Hinsberg's reagent, here p-toluenesulphonyl chloride):

1° amine $\mathrm{RNH_2}$ gives $\mathrm{RNH{-}SO_2Ar}$ . The N–H left on nitrogen sits between an electron-withdrawing $\mathrm{SO_2}$ group and the ring, so it is acidic — the sulphonamide dissolves in NaOH forming a salt.

2° amine $\mathrm{R_2NH}$ gives $\mathrm{R_2N{-}SO_2Ar}$ . Nitrogen now has no hydrogen at all, nothing to ionise, so the product is insoluble in alkali.

3° amine does not react at all.

So "Z is insoluble in alkali" is a direct statement that Y is a secondary amine.

Step-by-step

Use the Hinsberg clue. Z insoluble in alkali $\Rightarrow$ Y has no N–H after sulphonylation $\Rightarrow$ Y is 2°.

Screen the options. $\mathrm{C_6H_5CH_2NH_2}$ (benzylamine) is a primary amine — its tosylamide $\mathrm{C_6H_5CH_2NH{-}SO_2C_6H_4CH_3}$ still has an acidic N–H and would dissolve in KOH. So options (A) and (C) are out. Y must be $\mathrm{C_6H_5NHCH_3}$ .

Now identify the reduction. A secondary amine bearing an $\mathrm{N{-}CH_3}$ group is the hallmark product of reducing an isocyanide (carbylamine): $\mathrm{C_6H_5{-}NC} + 4[\mathrm{H}] \xrightarrow{\ \mathrm{H_2/Ni}\ } \mathrm{C_6H_5{-}NH{-}CH_3}$ …
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TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-10-AN1 markMCQ
$\mathrm{NH_2OH}$
›Reveal solutionSolution
The question asks which pair of reagent (X) and product (Y) is correctly matched. The correct match is aniline ( $\mathrm{C_6H_5NH_2}$ ) with Schiff base, so option (C) is correct.

Concept & Intuition

This is a classic organic chemistry matching problem about carbonyl derivatives. Each reagent (X) reacts with a carbonyl compound (aldehyde or ketone) to give a specific nitrogen-containing derivative. The key is to recall the functional group of the product formed:

Oximes come from hydroxylamine ( $\mathrm{NH_2OH}$ ).

Hydrazones come from hydrazine ( $\mathrm{NH_2NH_2}$ ).

Semicarbazones come from semicarbazide ( $\mathrm{NH_2NHCONH_2}$ ).

Schiff bases (imines) come from primary amines ( $\mathrm{RNH_2}$ ), especially aromatic ones like aniline.

Let’s check each option step by step.

Option (A): $\mathrm{NH_2OH}$ → Hydrazone

Hydroxylamine ( $\mathrm{NH_2OH}$ ) reacts with a carbonyl to form an oxime (with a $\mathrm{C=NOH}$ group), not a hydrazone. Hydrazones come from hydrazine. So this is incorrect.

Option (B): $\mathrm{NH_2NH_2}$ → Semicarbazone

Hydrazine ( $\mathrm{NH_2NH_2}$ ) gives a hydrazone ( $\mathrm{C=NNH_2}$ ). Semicarbazones require semicarbazide ( $\mathrm{NH_2NHCONH_2}$ ). So this is incorrect.

Option (C): $\mathrm{C_6H_5NH_2}$ → Schiff base …
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TG EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-12-AN1 markMCQ
$\mathrm{CH_3{-}CO{-}NH_2} \xrightarrow[\mathrm{NaOH\ (aq)}]{\mathrm{Br_2}} \mathrm{X} \xrightarrow[\text{(ii) } \mathrm{H_2O}]{\text{(i) } \mathrm{NaNO_2 + HCl}} \mathrm{Y}$
›Reveal solutionSolution

Acetamide undergoes Hofmann bromamide degradation to methylamine (X); nitrous acid converts this primary aliphatic amine into an unstable diazonium ion that immediately loses $\ce{N2}$ and picks up water, giving methanol — option (C).

The concept first: why aliphatic diazonium salts die instantly

Diazotisation ( $\ce{NaNO2 + HCl}$ ) makes the same $\ce{-N2+}$ group from any primary amine. The difference is stability. In an aryl diazonium salt the $\ce{-N2+}$ is conjugated with the ring, so at 273–278 K it survives long enough to be used in coupling/Sandmeyer reactions. In an alkyl diazonium ion there is no such delocalisation, and $\ce{N2}$ is an outstanding leaving group — so the ion falls apart the moment it forms, giving a carbocation that the solvent (water) captures. That is why primary aliphatic amines simply effervesce and give alcohols with nitrous acid.

Step-by-step

Step 1 — Identify X. Acetamide with bromine in aqueous alkali is the textbook Hofmann bromamide degradation:

$\ce{CH3CONH2 + Br2 + 4NaOH -> CH3NH2 + Na2CO3 + 2NaBr + 2H2O}$ …
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TG EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-13-AN1 markMCQ
$\mathrm{CH_3CH_2CH(NH_2){-}COC_6H_5}$
›Reveal solutionSolution
A sulphonamide that is insoluble in alkali can only come from a secondary amine, so X is $\ce{CH3CH2NHCH3}$ ; benzoyl chloride then acylates its nitrogen to give $\ce{CH3CH2N(CH3)COC6H5}$ — option (D).

The concept first: why alkali-solubility fingerprints the amine class

p-Toluenesulphonyl chloride (a Hinsberg-type reagent) reacts with the amine's lone pair, replacing an $\ce{N-H}$ hydrogen with the bulky $\ce{-SO2Ar}$ group:

Primary amine $\ce{R-NH2}$ → $\ce{R-NH-SO2Ar}$ . One $\ce{N-H}$ remains. That hydrogen is acidic, because the resulting anion is stabilised by the strongly electron-withdrawing sulphonyl group. Hence the product dissolves in KOH/NaOH.

Secondary amine $\ce{R2NH}$ → $\ce{R2N-SO2Ar}$ . No $\ce{N-H}$ is left. There is no acidic proton to remove, so the product is insoluble in alkali. ✓

Tertiary amine $\ce{R3N}$ → no reaction (there is no $\ce{N-H}$ to substitute in the first place), so no product Y at all.

The stem says a product Y forms and is insoluble in alkali. Both facts together force X to be secondary.

Step-by-step

Step 1 — Classify X. Product formed ⇒ not tertiary. Product alkali-insoluble ⇒ not primary. Therefore X is a $2^\circ$ amine.

Step 2 — Benzoylation (Schotten–Baumann). Benzoyl chloride $\ce{C6H5COCl}$ acylates the amine nitrogen:
$\ce{R2NH + C6H5COCl -> R2N-CO-C6H5 + HCl}$
The amide nitrogen ends up carrying both original alkyl groups plus the benzoyl group — i.e. it is a tertiary (N,N-disubstituted) amide with no $\ce{N-H}$ .

Step 3 — Test each option against "benzoyl on a $2^\circ$ nitrogen".

(A) $\ce{CH3CH2CH(NH2)COC6H5}$ — the benzoyl is on carbon, and a free $\ce{-NH2}$ survives. Wrong on both counts. …
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TG EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-18-FN1 markMCQ
$\mathrm{Li_2O + NO_2}$
›Reveal solutionSolution
Lithium nitrate decomposes differently from other alkali metal nitrates because of the small size and high polarising power of Li⁺; it gives $\mathrm{Li_2O}$ , $\mathrm{NO_2}$ , and $\mathrm{O_2}$ , so the correct option is (B).

Concept & Intuition

Most alkali metal nitrates (like NaNO₃, KNO₃) decompose on strong heating to give the nitrite and oxygen:

$\mathrm{2\,MNO_3 \rightarrow 2\,MNO_2 + O_2}$ .

But lithium is an exception. Because Li⁺ is very small, it has a high charge density and strongly polarises the nitrate ion. This destabilises the nitrate, causing it to break down further — lithium nitrite (LiNO₂) itself is unstable at high temperature and decomposes to lithium oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and oxygen. So the final products are not simply nitrite + O₂, but oxide + NO₂ + O₂.

Step-by-step reasoning

General trend for alkali metal nitrates

For Na, K, Rb, Cs:

$\mathrm{2\,MNO_3 \xrightarrow{\Delta} 2\,MNO_2 + O_2}$

The nitrite is stable at the decomposition temperature.

Lithium’s anomaly

Li⁺ is much smaller than other alkali ions. Its high polarising power weakens the N–O bonds in the nitrate ion, so decomposition occurs at a lower temperature and proceeds further.

First step – formation of nitrite

Initially, LiNO₃ does form LiNO₂ and O₂:

$\mathrm{2\,LiNO_3 \rightarrow 2\,LiNO_2 + O_2}$

But LiNO₂ is not stable at the temperature needed for decomposition.

Second step – further decomposition of LiNO₂

Lithium nitrite decomposes to lithium oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and oxygen:

$\mathrm{2\,LiNO_2 \rightarrow Li_2O + NO_2 + NO}$

However, NO reacts immediately with O₂ to give NO₂: …
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Q.The best reagent for converting 2-phenylpropanamide into 2-phenylpropanamine is ____.

Concept understanding — Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions

Nucleophilic Addition – From Intuition to Precision

The Precise Statement

Why It Happens – The Driving Force

A Concrete Example – Addition of HCN to a Ketone

What Makes a Good Nucleophile?

Why this formula?

Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions: Why the Key Formulas Hold

1. The Two Main Mechanisms: A Tale of Timing

SN1: Unimolecular — The Leaving Group Goes First

SN2: Bimolecular — Simultaneous Attack and Departure

2. The Transition State: Why the Formulas Are Not Just "Given"

Concept: Hofmann Rearrangement (Hofmann Bromamide Degradation)

Method: Hofmann Rearrangement

🧪 The Core Concept

✓ Correct Reagent

✗ Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Each

1. Choosing excess $\ce{H2}$ (Option A)

2. Choosing $\ce{Br2}$ in aqueous NaOH (Option B)

3. Choosing iodine + red phosphorus (Option C)

The concept first

Step-by-step

The concept: why alkali-solubility identifies the class of amine

Step-by-step

The concept first: why aliphatic diazonium salts die instantly

Step-by-step

The concept first: why alkali-solubility fingerprints the amine class

Step-by-step

Q.The best reagent for converting 2-phenylpropanamide into 2-phenylpropanamine is ____.

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