Nucleophilicity and Basicity of Amines

Amines are classified based on the number of alkyl groups attached to the central nitrogen atom  

The reactivity of all amines amines have this lone pair derives from the presence of a lone pair on the nitrogen atom. All 

This lone pair can function as a nucleophile (attacking an electrophile)  

By focusing on this lone pair, we can understand why amines are good nucleophiles and good bases. When an amine participates in a reaction, the first step will always be one of these two possibilities either the lone pair will receive a proton or the lone pair will attack an electrophile. 

These anions are stronger nucleophiles and stronger bases than uncharged amines. We call these structures amides. Here are two examples of amides that we have seen so far in this course  

---