Question

Write the reactions of 

1. aromatic and 

2. aliphatic primary amines with nitrous acid.

Answer 1

Aromatic primary amines react with HNO₂ at 273 – 278 K to form aromatic diazonium salts.

Aliphatic primary amines also react with HNO₂ at 273 – 278 K to form aliphatic diazonium salts. But these are unstable even at low temperature and thus decomposes readily to form a mixture of compounds consisting of alkyl chlorides, alkenes and alcohols, out of which alcohols generally predominates.