Amines and ammonia react with alkanoyl halides to form amides. The reaction is favored with an excess of amine, in order to eliminate the hydrochloric acid released in the reaction.
![reaction-halides-alkanoyl-amides reaccion-haluros-alcanoilo-amidas](/images/stories/organica-ii/haluros-alcanoilo/reaccion-aminas/reaccion-haluros-alcanoilo-amidas-01.png)
The mechanism occurs in two stages:
Stage 1. Addition of the amine to the halide
![reaction-halides-alkanoyl-amides reaccion-haluros-alcanoilo-amidas](/images/stories/organica-ii/haluros-alcanoilo/reaccion-aminas/reaccion-haluros-alcanoilo-amidas-02.png)
Stage 2. Chloride removal
![reaction-halides-alkanoyl-amides reaccion-haluros-alcanoilo-amidas](/images/stories/organica-ii/haluros-alcanoilo/reaccion-aminas/reaccion-haluros-alcanoilo-amidas-03.png)
This reaction can only be carried out with primary or secondary amines. Tertiary amines do not form amides and give rise to alkanoyl ammonium salts.