Question

Why is a secondary amine more nucleophilic than primary amines?

Answer 1

Organic derivatives of ammonia in which one hydrogen atom is replaced by an organic group is called Primary amine ( RNH2) and if two hydrogen atoms are replaced by organic groups is called secondary amine ( R2NH)

Nucleophile is one which that donates an electron pair to an electrophile to form a chemical bond in relation to a reaction. An active lone pair of electrons exist on all amines on the very electronegative nitrogen atom. And these electrons are attracted to positive parts of other molecules or ions.The alkyl groups donate electrons to the more electronegative nitrogen in the amines. And the inductive effect makes the electron density on the alkylamine's nitrogen greater than the nitrogen of ammonium.