What Does the "N" mean in N-Ethyl-2-Propanamine?

[thomasfx10]

Hey gang ... I using the MCAT Study Guide and in the O-Chem Section they are putting the N in front of the compounds that have Amines.

I assume it this indicates there is an Amine in it? If so, does there have to be an "N" for each amine?

E.g.
N-Ethyl-2-Propamine
N-Ethyl-N-isopropyl-2-propanamine

It has been a while since O-Chem and I think our Prof. skipped the section on Amines ... Which is not good!

Thanks!

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[MT Headed]

The N refers to the location of the following substituent, much like a 2- or a 3-. Specifically it means that the substituent is hanging off of a nitrogen, and not one of the main chain carbons.

Your molecule is thus...

"-propan-" okay it's a propane, a CH3-CH2-CH3.
"-amine" whoops, it looks like one of those hydrogens is really an "-NH2" group. where?
"2-" ahh, the "-NH2" is hanging off of the middle carbon
"-ethyl-" hey, we're not done, there is a "-CH2-CH3" group somewhere. where?
"N-" ohhh, the "-CH2-CH3" is hanging off of the nitrogen. It has an ethyl instead of one of its hydrogens.

CH3-CH(NH-CH2-CH3)-CH3

 

[thomasfx10]

Great explanation! ... I understand ... you should be a professor / Doc 😀

Question ... What if there are two "N"'s does not mean that there are two substituents on that same Amine? Thanks

N-Ethyl-N-propyl-2-propanamine

 

[apex954]

Great explanation! ... I understand ... you should be a professor / Doc 😀

Question ... What if there are two "N"'s does not mean that there are two substituents on that same Amine? Thanks

N-Ethyl-N-propyl-2-propanamine

If there r two "N"s from which the substituents are hanging, it will be denoted as N and N' e.g

N,N,N',N'-Tetramethylethylenediamine, meaning there are two methyl groups hangin' from each N of the two amine.

 

[thomasfx10]

Awesome! Thanks