Chapter 27: Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins
Nucleophilic substitution of α-halocarboxylic acids
Reaction type: Nucleophilic Substitution
Summary
Reagents : excess ammonia.
This reaction is an example of a
nucleophilic substitution
with a halide as the leaving group.
The α-halocarboxylic acid can be obtained via an α-
substitution reaction
of a carboxylic acid (Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky reaction).
QUESTION
Why is an excess of ammonia required ?
ANSWER
Related Reactions
α-Halogenation of Carboxylic Acids
Substitution Reactions of Alkyl Halides
Strecker synthesis
Alkylation of an acetamidomalonate
©
Dr. Ian Hunt
, Department of Chemistry
