Nucleophilic Addition - Nitrogen Nucleophiles:

Imine formation

The primary amines' reaction with aldehydes and ketones do not provide the products supposed from nucleophilic addition alone. This is since further reaction takes place once nucleophilic addition occurs. As an instance, we shall refer the reaction of acetaldehyde (ethanal) along with a primary amine - methylamine as shown in the figure. The product consists of the methylamine skeleton, but not like the previous reactions there is no alcohol group and there is a double bond among the carbon and the nitrogen. This product is termed as an imine or a Schiff base.

Figure: Reaction of ethanal with methylamine