Arrange the following:

In increasing order of basic strength:

(a) Aniline, p-nitroaniline and p-toluidine

(b) C₆H₅NH₂, C₆H₅NHCH₃, C₆H₅CH₂NH₂

(a) Electron-donating groups such as –CH₃, -OCH₃, -NH₂, etc. increase the basicity and electron-withdrawing groups such as –NO₂, -CN, -SO₃H, -COOH, -X(halogen), etc. decrease the basicity of amines.

Explanation: Electron-donating groups releases electrons, stabilizes the conjugate acid (cation) and thus increases the basic strength.

Electron-withdrawing groups withdraws electrons, destabilizes the conjugate acid (cation) and thus decreases the basic strength.

In p-nitroaniline, NO₂ group is present. As we know that NO₂ group is an electron withdrawing group which decreases the basic strength of amine. In p-toluidine, CH₃ group is present and as we know that CH₃ group is an electron donating(releasing) group which increases the basic strength of amine.

Hence, p-toluidine is more basic than p-nitroaniline

Now in C₆H₅NH₂ (aniline), due to delocalisation of lone pair of electrons of the N-atom over the benzene ring (decreases the electron density of N-atom) makes it less basic than p-toluidine but more basic than p-nitroaniline (NO₂ group is present which decreases the density of aniline)

Combining all these facts, the relative basic strength of these three amines increases in the order:

p-nitroaniline< aniline < p-toluidine

(b) C₆H₅NH₂, C₆H₅NHCH₃, C₆H₅CH₂NH₂

In C₆H₅NH₂ and C₆H₅NHCH₃, the N-atom is directly attached to the aromatic ring. Hence, they both show resonance in which delocalisation of lone pair of electrons N-atom takes palce. As a result the electron density of N-atom decreases. Hence both are weaker bases. However in C₆H₅NHCH₃, CH₃ group(electron withdrawing) is present which increases the overall density of electrons.

Hence, C₆H₅NHCH₃ is more basic than C₆H₅NH₂

In C₆H₅CH₂NH₂, the N-atom is not directly attached to the aromatic ring. As a result, it does not show resonance. There is no effect on the electron density of lone pair of electrons of N-atom. Hence, it is more basic than C₆H₅NH₂ and C₆H₅NHCH₃

Combining all these facts, the relative basic strength of these three amines increases in the order:

C₆H₅NH₂ < C₆H₅NHCH₃ < C₆H₅CH₂NH₂