Question

Which of the following are useful to synthesize ethylamine?

• A. Potassium salt of phthalimide on reaction with ethylbromide followed by hydrolysis.
• B. Reduction of acetamide or azidoethane using $LiAl{H}_4$ followed by work up
• C. Reductive amination of acetaldehyde with $N{H}_3$ using $NaB{H}_{3}CN$
• D. Reductive amination of acetaldehyde with $N{H}_3$ using catalytic reduction

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B), (C), (D)

Reductive amination of acetaldehyde with $N{H}_3$ using catalytic reduction

Gabriel phthalimide synthesis
Let us start with the potassium salt of phthalimide and get it to react with ethyl bromide.

The product of the above reaction is N-ethylphthalimide, which on treatment with $H_{2}NN{H}_2$ yields ethanamine.

2. Synthesis using azide:
Using the compound sodium azide, ethyl bromide is converted to azidoethane.

This product is reduced with $LiAl{H}_4$ followed by a work-up to give the required product.

3. From ethanol:

Another route is via acetic acid:

4. From ethanol but using catalytic reduction (hydrogenation):