Lesson 5 Organic Amines

The most common type of organic compound that contains nitrogen is the amine，which reacts principally as a nucleophile. Amines are also the prototypical bases in organic chemistry，as well as good hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors，which accounts for their solubility in water and for much of their biological activity. An amine is classified according to the number of alkyl groups attached; if one substituent （alkyl or aryl group） is attached to the nitrogen atom，that compound is called a primary amine. If two substituents are attached to nitrogen，that defines a secondary amine; three substituents，a tertiary amine; and four substituents，a quaternary ammonium salt.