Organic Chemistry: Formamide + Formic Acid

[maverick280857]

Hi,

I want to know what happens when a mixture containing aldehyde(s) and ketone(s) is introduced to a mixture of formamide $HCONH_2$ and formic acid $HCOOH$.

Do both aldehyde and ketone react? Or does only one react?

Eagerly awaiting a response...

Thanks and Cheers
Vivek

 

[GCT]

nothing that I can think of, the amide won't be strong enough for aldol condensations...probably small scale acid base reactions at the most and formation of solid adducts. You would also have to analyze the boiling point/mp of these substances and consider how you would actually mix all of them together in the first place...Interesting physical and chemical dynamics may occur

 

[ravenprp]

Hello Vivek,

Thank you for your question. When a mixture containing aldehydes and ketones is introduced to a mixture of formamide and formic acid, both compounds will react with the aldehydes and ketones. This is because formamide and formic acid are both strong reducing agents and can easily reduce aldehydes and ketones to form alcohols. The reaction will proceed via a nucleophilic addition mechanism, where the formamide or formic acid acts as a nucleophile and attacks the carbonyl carbon in the aldehyde or ketone.

If the mixture only contains aldehydes, both formamide and formic acid will react with the aldehydes to form primary alcohols. If the mixture only contains ketones, formamide and formic acid will react with the ketones to form secondary alcohols. However, if the mixture contains both aldehydes and ketones, a mixture of primary and secondary alcohols will be formed.

I hope this answers your question. Let me know if you have any further inquiries.