During the preparation of amines via Hofmann's ammonolysis of alkyl halides, how can the reaction pa — Amines Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

The reaction is a sequential nucleophilic substitution ($S_N2$). Because the resulting alkylamine is a stronger nucleophile than ammonia, over-alkylation is rapid. By maintaining a massive excess of ammonia, the statistical probability ensures an alkyl halide molecule will almost exclusively encounter an ammonia molecule rather than a newly formed amine, securing the $1^\circ$ amine as the major product.