Question

Write a short note on the following.

Hofmann’s bromide reaction

Answer 1

When Amides are treated with bromine in the presence of an aqueous or ethanolic solution of KOH, primary amines with one carbon atom less than the parent amides are obtained.

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{O}\phantom{............................................}\\
||\phantom{............................................}\\
\ce{\underset{\underset{(R = Alkyl (or) Aryl)}{(amide)}}{R - C - NH2} ->[Br2/KOH] \underset{(Primary amine)}{R - NH2 + K2 CO3} + KBr + H2O}
\end{array}\]