Final answer:
To convert ethanamine to propanoic acid, initially ethanamine is alkylated to form N-ethylpropanamine, which is then oxidized to N-ethylpropanamide, and finally hydrolyzed to yield propanoic acid.
Step-by-step explanation:
To convert ethanamine to propanoic acid, a multi-step synthesis is needed. First, ethanamine (CH3CH2NH2) should be alkylated to form N-ethylpropanamine. This can be achieved by reacting ethanamine with propyl halide in the presence of a base. The next step involves the oxidation of the N-ethylpropanamine to form an amide, specifically N-ethylpropanamide.
This oxidation can typically be done using oxidizing agents such as KMnO4 or CrO3. Finally, to obtain propanoic acid, we have to hydrolyze the amide (N-ethylpropanamide). The hydrolysis is generally conducted in an acid or base environment, yielding propanoic acid (CH3CH2COOH) and ethylamine as a byproduct. Therefore, the conversion process from ethanamine to propanoic acid involves alkylation, oxidation, and hydrolysis reactions.