CHAPTER 18: Amines &
Neurotransmitters
General, Organic, & Biological Chemistry
Janice Gorzynski Smith
Smith, Janice Gorzynski. General, Organic,
& Biological Chemistry 2nd Ed.
1
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.
2
Example
Cocaine
Amines
Structure
Amines
Structure
Amines
Amines
Nomenclature
3
4
prefix +
1
2
N
parent +
Suffix
ane
ene
yne
ol
halide
thiol (SH)
aldehyde
ketone
Prefix
alkyl
alkenyl
alkynyl
hydroxy
alkoxy
fluoro,
chloro,
bromo,
iodo
mercapto
formyl
oxo
amide
carbamoyl
amide
amine
amino
amine
suffix
prefix
Give location and type of substituents.
Indicate naming the amine R groups with “N”
parent
How many carbons in longest chain?
Amine @ C1
suffix
What is the functional group? How many?
Amine = “amine”
N,N-dimethyl
Functional
Group
alkane
alkene
alkyne
alcohol (OH)
ether
butan
amine
thiol
al
one
oic acid
carboxylic
carboxylic acid
carboxy
acid
ester
oxycarbonyl
oate
* 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.
6
Nomenclature
Amines
Reactivity
Amines
Reactivity
Amines
Reactivity
Amines
Reactivity
Amines
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 neurotransmitter.
•The postsynaptic neuron contains the receptors
that bind the neurotransmitter.
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 neurotransmitter released.
Biochemistry
Neurotransmitters
Biochemistry
Neurotransmitters
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.
Serotonin is important
in mood, sleep,
perception,
and temperature
regulation.
Acetylcholine is a
quaternary
ammonium ion
that serves as a
neurotransmitter
between neurons
and muscle cells
Biochemistry
Neurotransmitters
Biochemistry
Neurotransmitters
Biochemistry
2-phenylethylamine
Biochemistry
2-phenylethylamine