Britannica Sources used in this answer

How does hydrogen peroxide oxidize secondary and tertiary amines?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

When hydrogen peroxide reacts with amines, it generally functions by adding an oxygen atom directly to the nitrogen atom of the molecule.1

The specific outcomes for secondary and tertiary amines are as follows:

  • Secondary amines: These are converted into hydroxylamines, which have the general formula R2NOH.1
  • Tertiary amines: These are oxidized to form amine oxides, represented by the formula R3NO.1

This process differs from the use of other reagents, such as MnO2, which typically remove hydrogen atoms to form different functional groups like imines.1