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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Lxtrodectus on December 06, 2020, 07:10:19 PM

Title: Ehrlich's reagent (N,N-Dimethylaminobenzaldehyde) on secondary amines
Post by: Lxtrodectus on December 06, 2020, 07:10:19 PM

Why can't Ehrlich's reagent react with secondary amines to give a cyanine just like primary amines? It's literally the same thing but with an alkyl group instead of an H. Why is Ehrlich's reagent said to be selective for primary aromatic groups? Both form iminium ions but nobody talks aobut secondary amines.