AMINE NOMENCLATURE

Amines can be named using two different systems:

as alkyl amines (naming the alkyl group or groups attached to the N)

as alkanamines (naming the alkane to which the N is attached)

Primary amines (R-NH2)

Alkyl amine: use the normal rules Alkanamine:the parent alkane (the

for naming alkyl groups as longest chain containing the carbon substituents; to which the N is attached) is

numbered from the end closest to the carbon with the N on it;

CH3-NH2 methyl amine or methanamine

NH2

|

CH3-CH-CH3 isopropyl amine or 2-propanamine

NH2

|

CH3-CH2-CH2-CH-CH3 1-methylbutyl amine or 2-pentanamine

Secondary amines (R-N-R')

|

H

Alkyl amine: if the alkyl groups Alkanamine: the longest chain to

are the same, it's a dialkyl amine; which the N is attached is the

otherwise list the alkyl groups parent; the other group attached to

in alphabetical order; the N is named as an N-alkyl

substituent;

CH3-N-CH3 dimethyl amine or N-methylmethanamine

|

H

CH3-CH2-N-CH3 ethyl methyl amine or N-methylethanamine

|

H

CH3

|

CH3-CH-NH

|

CH3-CH2-CH-CH2-CH3 1-ethylpropyl-

isopropyl amine or N-isopropyl-3-pentanamine

Tertiary amines (R-N-R')

|

R"

Follow the same rules as with secondary amines:

CH3-N-CH3 trimethyl amine or N,N-dimethylmethanamine

|

CH3

CH3-N-CH3 ethyl dimethyl amine or N,N-dimethylethanamine

|

CH2-CH3

CH3-N-CH2-CH3 ethyl isopropyl or N-ethyl-N-methyl-2-propanamine

| methyl amine

CH3-CH-CH3

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Aromatic amines

-NH2 is aniline; thus:

-NH2 NH-CH3

is 2-methylaniline; is 3-ethyl-N-methylaniline

-CH3

CH2-CH3

Functional group priorities:

-OH > -OR = -NH2, -NHR, -NR2 > alkyl, aryl, halo, nitro

thus: OH

|

CH3-CH2-CH-CH2-CH2-NH2 is 5-amino-3-pentanol

HO NH-CH3 is 4-N-methylaminophenol