Vocabulary

amine

organic compound that is a derivative of ammonia (NH3), where one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by alkyl or aryl units (R), forming NR{\rm{N{-}R}} single bonds

ammonium cation

cation with the chemical formula NH4+ that is formed from the protonation of ammonia (NH3)

chiral molecule

molecule that does not have a plane of symmetry whose isomers cannot be interconverted by rotation or reflection

nitrogen inversion

process in which the lone pair on the nitrogen rapidly inverts so that the molecule is not chiral

primary amine

organic compound that is a derivative of ammonia (NH3), where an alkyl or aryl unit (R) replaces one hydrogen atom, forming an NR{\rm{N{-}R}} single bond

quaternary amine

organic compound that is a derivative of ammonia (NH3), where alkyl or aryl units (R) replace three hydrogen atoms and the lone pair of electrons

resolving agent

chiral compound added to a racemic mixture to form diastereomeric salts. The salts are separated and separately converted back into the separate R and S enantiomers of the mixture.

secondary amine

organic compound that is a derivative of ammonia (NH3), where alkyl or aryl units (R) replace two hydrogen atoms, forming NR{\rm{N{-}R}} single bonds

stereogenic center

single tetrahedral atom with four different groups

tertiary amine

organic compound that is a derivative of ammonia (NH3), where alkyl or aryl units (R) replace three hydrogen atoms, forming NR{\rm{N{-}R}} single bonds