• Amides?are organic compounds with an -CONR₂?functional group
• They can be prepared from the?condensation reaction?between an?acyl chloride?and?ammonia?or?amine
• In a?condensation?reaction, two organic molecules?join together?and in the process?eliminate?a small molecule
• In this case, the acyl chlorides and ammonia or amine?join together?to form an?amide?and?eliminate?an HCl molecule

Condensation reaction

• The chlorine atom in acyl chlorides is?electronegative?and draws electron density from the carbonyl carbon
• The carbonyl carbon is therefore?electron-deficient?and can be attacked by?nucleophiles
• The nitrogen atom in ammonia and amines has a lone pair of electrons which can act as a?nucleophile?and attack the carbonyl carbon
• As a result, the C-Cl bond is?broken?and an?amide?is formed
• Whether the product is a?substituted?amide or not, depends on the nature of the?nucleophile
  • Primary and secondary amines will give a?substituted amide
  • The reaction of acyl chlorides with ammonia will produce a?non-substituted amide
• Note?that amides can also be formed from the condensation reaction between?carboxylic acids?and ammonia or amines
• However, this reaction is?slower?as carboxylic acids are?less reactive?than?acyl chlorides?and the reaction doesn’t go to completion

Acyl chlorides undergo condensation reactions with ammonia and amines to form amides