Amine & Derivative

One, two, or three hydrogen atoms in an ammonia molecule are substituted with an alkyl group to produce compounds called first amines (primary amines), second amines (secondary amines), and tertiary amines (tertiary amines), respectively. Their general formulas are: RNH2 - primary amine, R2NH - secondary amine, R3N - tertiary amine. Amines are widely present in the biological world and have extremely important physiological effects. Therefore, the vast majority of drugs contain the functional group of amines - amine groups. Proteins, nucleic acids, many hormones, antibiotics, and alkaloids all contain amine groups that are complex derivatives of amines.  According to the different types of hydroxyl groups in the amine molecule connected to the nitrogen atom, amines can be divided into fatty amines and aromatic amines. If the amine molecule contains two or more amino groups (-NH2), it can be divided into dibasic amines and terbasamines according to the number of amino groups.

Amines are widely distributed in nature, most of which are produced by amino acid decarboxylation. For example, the industrial preparation of amines is mostly prepared by the reaction of ammonia with alcohol or haloalkanes, and the product is a mixture of amines at all levels, which is purified after fractionation. Catalytic reduction by aldehydes and ketones in the presence of ammonia can also obtain corresponding amines. In industry, amine compounds are often prepared by catalytic reduction of nitro compounds, nitriles, amides or nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds

Amines are used for a wide range of purposes. The earliest development of the dye industry was based on aniline. Some amines are necessary to maintain life activities, but some are also very harmful to life, many amine compounds have carcinogenic effects, especially aromatic amines, such as naphthylamine, benzidine and so on.