Question

Name the distinguishing test for differentiating 1° amine from 2° and 3° amine.

Answer 1

Carbylamine Test: When primary amines, either aromatic or aliphatic, are heated in chloroform, they produce foul-smelling compounds known as alkyl/aryl isocyanides or carbylamines. Primary amines are tested using this reaction. It is not a test that secondary or tertiary amines provide.

\[\ce{\underset{(1° amine)}{R - NH2}+\underset{(Chloroform)}{CHCl3 +} 3KOH->[\Delta]\underset{(Alkyl isocyanide)}{R - NC + 3KCl} + 3H2O}\]