Carbylamine reaction

The Carbylamine reaction is a chemical test for detection of primary amines. In this reaction, the analyte is heated with alcoholic potassium hydroxide and chloroform. If a primary amine is present, the isocyanide is formed.

For example, the reaction with ethylamine:



The reaction with aniline:



The carbylamine test does not give a positive reaction with secondary and tertiary amines.