Catalyst used in Hoffmann bromamide degradation reaction
The catalyst used in Hoffmann bromamide degradation reaction is sodium hydroxide (NaOH). This reaction is used to convert a primary amide into an amine with one less carbon atom.

Mechanism
- In the first step of the reaction, the primary amide is treated with bromine in the presence of sodium hydroxide.
- This results in the formation of N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and the corresponding N-haloamide.
- The N-haloamide is then hydrolyzed under basic conditions to form the desired amine and sodium bromide.

Role of catalyst
- Sodium hydroxide acts as a base in this reaction, facilitating the hydrolysis of the N-haloamide intermediate.
- It helps in breaking the C-N bond in the N-haloamide, leading to the formation of the amine product.

Importance of Hoffmann bromamide degradation reaction
- This reaction is important in organic synthesis for the conversion of primary amides into amines.
- It provides a way to decrease the carbon chain length of the starting primary amide, which can be useful in the synthesis of various compounds.
In conclusion, the Hoffmann bromamide degradation reaction utilizes sodium hydroxide as a catalyst to convert primary amides into amines. The mechanism involves the formation of N-bromosuccinimide, followed by hydrolysis under basic conditions to yield the desired amine product.