Question

What happens when oxidation of tert-butylamine with KMnO₄?

Answer 1

In general, primary amines, in which the –NH₂ group is attached to a tertiary carbon can be oxidised with KMnO₄ to the corresponding nitro compound in excellent yield.

Therefore 3°-butylamine oxidised to give 2-methyl-2-nitropropane.

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\phantom{...}\ce{CH3}\phantom{...................}\ce{CH3}\phantom{}\\
\phantom{}|\phantom{.......................}|\phantom{}\\
\ce{CH3 - C - NH2 ->[KMnO4] CH3 - C - NO2}\\
\phantom{}|\phantom{.......................}|\phantom{}\\
\phantom{........}\ce{\underset{(3°-butylamine)}{CH3}}\phantom{........}\ce{\underset{(2-methyl-2-nitropropane)}{CH3}}\phantom{..}
\end{array}\]