How will you convert:

Ethanoic acid into methanamine


Explanation: To convert ethanoic acid into methanamine (CH3NH2), we need ethanamide (amide group-RCONH2) and we can get ethanamide from ethanoyl chloride (acid chloride group- RCOCl).


Step-1: Convert ethanoic acid into ethanoyl chloride


Ethanoic acid (CH3COOH) reacts with thionyl chloride (SOCl2) or PCl5 or PCl3 to form ethanoyl chloride (CH3COCl) by the replacement of OH group by Cl atom.


Step-2 Convert ethanoyl chloride into ethanamide


Ethanoyl chloride (CH3COCl) reacts with ammonia (in excess) to form ethanamide (CH3CONH2) by removal of NH4Cl


Step-3: Convert ethanamide into methanamine (Hoffman Bromamide reaction)


Ethanamide (CH3CONH2) is treated with an aqueous or ethanolic solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) and bromine (Br2), it gives ethanamine (CH3NH2-final product)


Note: Hoffman Bromamide Reaction is a reaction in which a primary amide is treated with an aqueous KOH or NaOH and bromine, it gives a primary amine which has one carbon atom less than the original amide.



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