Amines Organic bases derived from ammonia alkylation

Amine o- men, a- men [ISR, fr. NL ammonia] (1863) n. Organic bases derived from the parent compound, ammonia (NH3). The hydrogens of the ammonia may be substituted by alkyl groups, in which case the series of aliphatic bases is produced. Similarly, aromatic bases are formed when... 

Organic derivatives of ammonia are called amines. Because nitrogen is trivalent, amines can be primary (attached to one carbon), secondary (attached to two carbons), or tertiary. All amines are basic, and their strength as bases increases with the number of alkyl groups attached to the nitrogen that is, methyl amine is a stronger base than ammonia and trimethylamine is stronger than dimethylamine. Amines can be prepared from ammonia and an alkyl halide ... 

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