Hofmann Reaction or Hofmann Rearrangement
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Hofmann Reaction or Hofmann Rearrangement
The conversion of an amide to an amine with one carbon atom less than amide , by the reaction of Bromine & alkali ( NaOH or KOH ) is known as Hofmann reaction.
RCONH2 +Br2 +4KOH —–>RNH2 +2KBr +K2CO3 +2H2O
Mechanism:
Applications:
1)Aliphatic and aromatic amines are formed from amides (upto 7 carbon atoms)
Example: R may be -CH3 , -CH2-CH3 ,-CH2-CH2-CH3 , -CH2-(CH2)2-CH3 , -CH2-(CH2)3-CH3 , -CH2-(-CH2)4-CH3
2) Preparation of Aldehydes:
Amides of ∝, β-unsaturated acid and ∝-hydroxy acid are converted to aldehyde by hofmann reaction.