Spectrophotometric titration of aliphatic amines with cinnamic anhydride

Kinetics of trans-Cinnamic Anhydride Reactions Catalyzed by Pyridine, 4-Dimethylaminopyridine, and N-Methylimidazole

“…The cinnamoyl group, C6H&!H=CHCO, is a powerful chromophore and, therefore, of analytical interest. A quantitative method for aliphatic amines (1,2) is based on their reaction with trans-cinnamic anhydride to give the corresponding cinnamamides. These reactions are rapid and quantitative, but aromatic amines and alcohols, which are relatively weak nucleophiles, react too slowly for practical use of the published procedure.…”