1. CHAPTER 18: Amines & Neurotransmitters
General, Organic, & Biological Chemistry
Janice Gorzynski Smith
Smith, Janice Gorzynski. General, Organic, & Biological Chemistry 2nd Ed.

2. CHAPTER 18 Amines & Neurotransmitters
Learning Objectives:
Identify amines and describe bonding & structure
(1°, 2°, 3°)
Nomenclature for amines
Amine hydrogen bonding
Alkaloids & Nitrogen heterocycles
Acid-base chemistry of amines
Neurotransmitter amines
Amines and common drugs
CH 18 Homework:
End of Chapter problems: 30, 32, 38, 40, 44, 52, 54, 58, 60, 66, 72, 76, 80, 82, 84
Smith, Janice Gorzynski. General, Organic, & Biological Chemistry 2nd Ed.

3. Example
Amines
Cocaine

4. Structure
Amines

5. Structure
Amines

6. Nomenclature Amines N,N-dimethyl butan amine Functional Group Prefix
Suffix
alkane
alkyl
ane
alkene
alkenyl
ene
alkyne
alkynyl
yne
alcohol (OH)
hydroxy ol
ether
alkoxy
halide
fluoro, chloro, bromo,
iodo
thiol (SH)
mercapto
thiol
aldehyde
formyl al
ketone
oxo
one
carboxylic acid
carboxy
oic acid carboxylic acid
ester
oxycarbonyl
oate
amide
carbamoyl
amine
amino 3 1 4 2 N
prefix +
parent +
suffix
prefix
Give location and type of substituents. Indicate naming the amine R groups with “N”
parent
How many carbons in longest chain? C1
What is the functional group? How many?
Amine = “amine”
suffix
N,N-dimethyl
butan
amine
* Note: when we have more then 1 functional group the parent name has an “a” added on: hexa instead of hex
Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.

7. Nomenclature
Amines

8. Reactivity
Amines

9. Reactivity
Amines

10. Reactivity
Amines

11. Reactivity
Amines

12. Biochemistry
Neurotransmitters
A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that
transmits nerve impulses from one neuron to
another.
The space between the two neurons is called a
synapse.
The presynaptic neuron releases the neuro-
transmitter.
The postsynaptic neuron contains the receptors
that bind the neurotransmitter.

13. Biochemistry
Neurotransmitters
Once the neurotransmitter is bound to the
receptor, the chemical message is delivered.
The transmitter is then degraded or returned to
the presynaptic neuron to begin the process again.
Some drugs are used to prevent the release of
a neurotransmitter or to block its binding to a
receptor.
Other drugs increase the amount of neuro-
transmitter released.

14. Biochemistry
Neurotransmitters

15. Biochemistry Neurotransmitters
Serotonin is important in mood, sleep, perception,
and temperature regulation.
Dopamine affects the brain processes that control
movement, emotions, and pleasure
When norepinephrine levels increase, a person
feels elated, and then manic if levels go too high.
Acetylcholine is a quaternary ammonium ion
that serves as a neurotransmitter between neurons
and muscle cells

16. Biochemistry
Neurotransmitters

17. Biochemistry
Neurotransmitters

18. Biochemistry
2-phenylethylamine

19. Biochemistry
2-phenylethylamine