[Chemistry Class Notes] Hinsberg Reagent and Test Pdf for Exam

The Hinsberg test is a chemical tool used in organic chemistry that uses chemical reaction to distinguish between primary, secondary, and tertiary amines. This reaction was first explained in 1890 by the German chemist Oscar Heinrich Daniel Hinsberg. In the Hinsberg test, amines act as nucleophiles and attack electrophiles. This leads to chloride substitution and sulfonamide formation. When primary and secondary amines are from a sulfonamide, this sulfonamide product is insoluble and precipitates as a solid from the solution. 

Hinsberg reagent can be described as an alternate name for benzene sulfonyl chloride. This name is given for the usage of its Hinsberg test to detect and distinguish primary, secondary, and tertiary amines of a given sample. This reagent is an organosulfur compound, and the Hinsberg reagent formula (chemical formula) is C₆H₅SO₂Cl. The Hinsberg reagents is a colorless oil, which is viscous in nature, and it is soluble in organic solvents.

 

This reagent undergoes a reaction with compounds containing N–H, O–H bonds, which are reactive in nature. We can also use it in the preparation of sulfonamide esters (via reaction with alcohol) and sulfonamides (via reaction with amines).

Preparation of Hinsberg Reagent

The benzene sulfonic acid chlorination or the benzene sulfonic acid salts with phosphorus oxychloride (POCl₃) produce the required reagent.

 

Another way to prepare the necessary Hinsberg reagent can be done by reacting benzene with the chlorosulfuric acid (which has a chemical formula HSO₃Cl). Let us look at the preparation methods of the required reagent including the structure of Hinsberg reagent below.

 

()

 

Hinsberg Test

Hinsberg test can be described as a chemical reaction that can distinguish between primary, secondary, and tertiary amine types. This reaction was first described in 1890 by the German chemist named “Oscar Heinrich Daniel Hinsberg”.

 

In this type of test, the amines are allowed to act as nucleophiles and attack electrophiles (also called sulfonyl chloride). This leads to chloride displacement and the generation of sulfonamides. When both primary amines and secondary amines produce sulfonamides, this sulfonamide product cannot be soluble and precipitates from the solid solution.

Hinsberg Reaction Pathways

The benzene sulfonyl chloride reaction with primary amines results in a sulfonamide product, which is soluble in alkali. This reaction is illustrated below.

 

()

 

The benzene sulfonyl chloride reaction with the secondary amines results in a sulfonamide product, which can be soluble in alkali. One of the examples for this reaction type can be given below.

 

()

 

No such reaction takes place between the benzene sulfonyl chloride reagent and the tertiary amine. Tertiary amines help in sulfonyl chloride hydrolysis. This reaction produces salts, which can be soluble in water.

 

Therefore, the Hinsberg reagent is used differently to react with primary, secondary, and tertiary amines. These differences can be observed in the sulfonamide product solubility in alkali.

Determination of Amines Using Hinsberg’s Test

The reagent of Hinsberg is the benzene sulphonyl chloride, and it can be used for distinguishing between 1°, 2°, and 3° amines.

 

The primary amines contain 2 active hydrogen ions, so they react with benzene sulphonyl chloride and can produce salt, which can be dissolved in NaOH because of the remaining active hydrogen. The secondary amines contain only 1 hydrogen ion, so it reacts with benzene sulphonyl chloride but does not dissolve in NaOH. Tertiary amines do not hold active hydrogen, and thus they don’t react with benzene sulphonyl chloride.

Order of Basctity of Amines 

Let us assume that the terms a, b, and c indicate primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, respectively.  The groups attached to these amines can be specified with “R”. 

If R is used as the methyl group of the aqueous phase (all R  except hydrogen),  the basic order can be given as b> a> c. Conversely, if R is considered to be a group other than a methyl group, the basic order can be expressed as b> c> a.

In the gas phase, the order of basicity can also be given as c> b> a. 

 

Note: It is not mentioned in the questions, we can assume it to be in the aqueous phase as a default case.

 

Differentiate Methylamine and Trimethylamine

(i) The terms methylamine and dimethylamine can be differentiated using the carbylamine test.

 

Carbylamine Test: The primary amines of aliphatic and aromatic, on heating with ethanolic potassium hydroxide and chloroform, form either foul-smelling isocyanides or carbylamines. Being a primary amine of aliphatic, methylamine produces a positive carbylamine test, whereas dimethylamine does not.

 

(ii) The secondary and tertiary amines can be differentiated by allowing them to react with the reagent of Hinsberg (benzene sulphonyl chloride).

 

The secondary amines react with the reagent of Hinsberg to form a product, which is insoluble in an alkali. Suppose, N, N-diethylamine reacts with Hinsberg’s reagent to produce N and N-diethyl benzene sulphonamide, which can be insoluble in an alkali. But, the tertiary amines will not react with Hinsberg’s reagent.

Preparation of Para-Nitroaniline from Benzene

To achieve this, we can start with benzene, where the first step is to nitrate it with a mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid to produce nitrobenzene. If we could nitrate this again, the nitro group would undergo meta-position because the nitro group is a meta director. Hence, we have to reduce it.

 

There are many ways to perform this, but the tin or HCl method used is fine and will produce aniline. Where aniline is nitrated directly, but it is much reactive, and by so, we will lose selectivity and probably get some over nitration. So, it is suggested to first convert it to acetanilide and then nitrate. This will mainly give us the p-nitro acetanilide product (which is a dash of the ortho product, and it can be removed by recrystallization). Now, finally, hydrolyze off the acetyl group, and we will get p-nitroaniline.

 

()

 

Did You Know?

• Ethers are considered to be less reactive because of the absence of charge separation or polarity. One of the reasons for the common use of ether as a solvent is the lack of reactivity of the ether functional group.

• Ethers are less reactive to alcohol but are substantially reactive to alkanes.

• They are inert to a few elements such as bases, active methylene group, alkali metals.