Name reaction Note Notebook

The Schmidt reaction is an organic reaction involving alkyl migration over the carbon–nitrogen chemical bond in an azide with expulsion of nitrogen. A key reagent introducing this azide group is hydrazoic acid and the reaction product depends on the type of reactant: Carboxylic acids form amines through an isocyanate intermediate and ketones form amides. A catalyst that can be a protic acid – usually sulfuric acid or a Lewis acid – is required. The reaction was discovered in 1924 by Karl Friedrich Schmidt, who successfully converted benzophenone and hydrazoic acid to benzanilide.