quaternary ammonium compound

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Ammonia and amines have a slightly flattened trigonal pyramidal shape, with a lone pair of electrons above the nitrogen. In quaternary ammonium salts, this area is occupied by a fourth substituent. Rapid inversion takes place between the enantiomers of amines with chiral nitrogens, but in quaternary ammonium ions such interconversion is not possible.

quaternary ammonium compound: Media

chemical compound

Images

Ammonia and amines have a slightly flattened trigonal pyramidal shape, with a lone pair of electrons above the nitrogen. In quaternary ammonium salts, this area is occupied by a fourth substituent. Rapid inversion takes place between the enantiomers of amines with chiral nitrogens, but in quaternary ammonium ions such interconversion is not possible.

Ammonia and amines have a slightly flattened trigonal pyramidal shape, with a lone...

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