Primary aliphatic amines, when treated with nitrous acid, form unstable aliphatic diazonium salts that quantitatively release nitrogen gas and alcohols. The quantitative evolution of nitrogen is used for the estimation of amino acids and proteins.
How do primary aliphatic amines react with nitrous acid, and what is the significance of this reaction in the estimation of amino acids and proteins?
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Primary aliphatic amines react with nitrous acid (HNO₂) in a process known as the diazotization reaction. In this reaction, the amine group is converted to a diazonium salt, which is further used for various synthetic transformations. The significance of this reaction lies in its application in the estimation of amino acids and proteins. Amino acids containing primary amine groups undergo diazotization, and the resulting diazonium salt can react with various coupling agents to form colored azo dyes. The intensity of the color can be correlated with the amount of amino acid present, enabling quantitative analysis in protein and amino acid determination.