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Which of the following primary amine is not prepared by Gabriel phthalimide synthesis:
A.CH3CH2NH2
B.CH3NH2
C.PhNH2
D.PhCH2NH2

Answer
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Hint: The Gabriel synthesis is a chemical reaction that transforms primary alkyl halides into primary amines. Traditionally, the reaction uses potassium phthalimide and, therefore, is also called Gabriel phthalimide synthesis. It uses a nucleophilic substitution reaction to form primary amines from alkyl halide.

Complete answer:
In Gabriel phthalimide synthesis, a base abstract proton from phthalimide gives a nucleophile phthalimide ion which attacks on the unhindered primary alkyl halide. The base hydrolysis of alkylated phthalimide gives the primary unhindered amine and phthalimide ion. Phthalimide ion itself is a bulky ion, so it prefers attack on hindered alkyl halide.
Gabriel phthalimide synthesis can be understood through the following mechanism:
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In the given options, CH3CH2NH2 (ethyl amine), CH3NH2 (methyl amine) and PhCH2NH2 (1phenyl methanamine) are the compounds which can be prepared by Gabriel phthalimide synthesis. Ethylamine and methylamine are simple aliphatic compounds. While in 1phenyl methanamine, the amine part is at the methyl part and phenyl is acting as a functional group and hence should be considered an aliphatic amine.
Hence, PhNH2 (aniline) is the only compound that cannot be prepared by Gabriel phthalimide synthesis.
Therefore, the correct option is C.

Note:
Gabriel phthalimide synthesis is only used for primary amines as steric hindrances do not allow the reaction for secondary and tertiary aliphatic amines. It is also not applicable for 1 aromatic compounds, aryl halide does not undergo nucleophilic substitution reaction. Aromatic compounds usually show electrophilic substitution reactions. Nucleophilic substitution destabilizes the resonance of aromatic compounds.