Question

Ethyl methylamine cannot be resolved under normal conditions because

• A. the nitrogen atom rapidly inverts its configuration leading to a racemic mixture
• B. it isomerizes rapidly with the achiral isomer trimethylamine
• C. the favoured configuration is not chiral
• D. the $C - N$ bond is not stable under conditions used for resolution

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

The $N$-atom of ethylmethylamine undergoes fast inversion, so it cannot be resolved under normal conditions.