Why is it generally impossible to separate the individual enantiomers of simple chiral aliphatic ter — Amines Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Tertiary amines with three different alkyl groups possess a chiral nitrogen center. However, they undergo a rapid oscillation called nitrogen inversion (the umbrella effect) through a planar $sp^2$ transition state at room temperature. This interconverts the enantiomers too quickly for them to be isolated or resolved.