Formation of amides
- Acyl chlorides can form amides from their condensation reaction with amines and ammonia
- The nitrogen atom in ammonia and amines has a lone pair of electrons which can be used to attack the carbonyl carbon atom in the acyl chlorides
- The product is a primary amide (when reacted with ammonia) or secondary amide (when reacted with primary amines)
- This is also an example of an addition-elimination reaction as
- The amine or ammonia molecule adds across the C=O bond
- A HCl molecule is eliminated
Acyl chlorides undergo condensation reactions with ammonia and amines to form amides