Question

Ammonolysis is a type of _________ reaction.

• A. electrophilic addition
• B. electrophilic substitution
• C. nucleophilic addition
• D. nucleophilic substitution

Answer 1

The correct option is D nucleophilic substitution

Alkyl and benzyl halides on reaction with an alcoholic solution of ammonia (nucleophile) undergoes nucleophilic substitution of the halogen atom by the amino group $(-N{H}_2)$. This process is known as ammonolysis.
General reaction is as follows:
$N{H}_3+R-X\to RN{H}_3^{+}{X}^{-}$

Then, the substituted ammonium salt reacts with strong base to give free amine.

General reaction is as follows:
$RN{H}_3^{+}{X}^{-}+NaOH\to RN{H}_2+NaX+H_{2}O$