McMurry (Kap 16,7)

Question 1

Are amides abundant in living organisms?

Answer 1

Yes, just like esters.

Question 2

Are amides reactive?

Answer 2

Amides are the least reactive from the carboxylic acid derivatives (remeber the tabel from previos chapter), and undergo therefore few nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction.

Question 3

What reactions do amides undergo?

Answer 3

1) conversion of amide to carboxylic acid (hydrolysis)

yields carboxylic acid + ammonia/or amine (in heating in (aq) acid or (aq) base)).

See the reaction process on page 585.

2) conversion of amide into amine (reduction)

Amides can be reduced by LiAlH4.

See the reaction process on page 586.