Question

Primary, secondary and tertiary amines can be separated from their mixture by using ethyl oxalate.

• A. True
• B. False

Answer 1

The correct option is A True

Primary, secondary and tertiary amines can be separated from their mixture by using ethyl oxalate.
The method is called Hofmann's method.
The mixture of the three amines is heated with diethyl oxalate.
Primary amine forms solid oxamide, the secondary amine forms a liquid oxamic ester and the tertiary amine does not react at all.