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How does hydrogen peroxide oxidize secondary and tertiary amines?
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amine
Examples of different types of amines.
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 .1
- Tertiary amines: These are oxidized to form amine oxides, represented by the formula .1
This process differs from the use of other reagents, such as , which typically remove hydrogen atoms to form different functional groups like imines.1