Carbylamine reaction

The Carbylamine reaction is a chemical test for detection of primary amines. In this reaction, the analyte is heated with alcoholic potassium hydroxide and chloroform. If a primary amine is present, the isocyanide is formed.

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For example, the reaction with ethylamine:

The reaction with aniline:

The carbylamine test does not give a positive reaction with secondary and tertiary amines.

References

Carbylamine reaction