11Diphenylethylamine

1,1-Diphenylethylamine is an organic compound with the chemical formula (C6H5)2CHCH3NH2. It is a primary amine where two phenyl groups and a methyl group are attached to the carbon atom adjacent to the amine group. This molecule is chiral, meaning it exists as a pair of enantiomers, (R)-1,1-diphenylethylamine and (S)-1,1-diphenylethylamine, due to the presence of a stereocenter at the carbon bearing the phenyl groups and the methyl group.

The synthesis of 1,1-diphenylethylamine can be achieved through various chemical routes. One common method involves the reductive amination of 1,1-diphenylethanone (deoxybenzoin) or related precursors. The properties of 1,1-diphenylethylamine include its basic nature, characteristic of amines, and its solubility in organic solvents.

1,1-Diphenylethylamine and its derivatives have found applications in organic synthesis, particularly as chiral auxiliaries or resolving agents. The enantiomerically pure forms are valuable in asymmetric synthesis for controlling the stereochemistry of reactions, leading to the formation of specific enantiomers of target molecules. Its use as a building block in the synthesis of more complex organic molecules is also noted. The compound itself is a colorless to pale yellow liquid or solid depending on purity and temperature.