morsagh - 27-5-2016 at 07:29
What is easier to alkylate, primary amine or secondary? Like in reaction of for example ethylenediamine with bromomethane... there will most likely go
two methyls to one amine group or each amine will have one methyl group?
Metacelsus - 27-5-2016 at 08:04
Secondary, in general (as long as there isn't steric hindrance). The carbon atoms donate electron density, making the amine more nucleophilic.
Dr.Bob - 27-5-2016 at 15:26
Yes, if you alkylate ethylenediamine with 2 eq of bromomethane, then you would likely get mostly a tertiary amine on one side and the primary amine on
the other. There are tricks to getting monoalkylation, but they depend on the substrate, the alklylating agent, and more.