The Hofmann bromamide degradation reaction is a classic method used to convert a primary amide into a primary amine with one fewer carbon atom.
In this process, an amide reacts with bromine in an aqueous or ethanolic solution of sodium hydroxide (or potassium hydroxide).
The general chemical equation is:
$\mathit{R}-\mathit{C}\mathit{O}\mathit{N}{\mathit{H}}_2+\mathit{B}{\mathit{r}}_2+4\mathit{N}\mathit{a}\mathit{O}\mathit{H}\to \mathit{R}-\mathit{N}{\mathit{H}}_2+\mathit{N}{\mathit{a}}_2\mathit{C}{\mathit{O}}_3+2\mathit{N}\mathit{a}\mathit{B}\mathit{r}+2{\mathit{H}}_2\mathit{O}$
(i) $\mathit{R}-\stackrel{\mathit{O}}{\stackrel{\left|\right|}{\mathit{C}}}-\mathit{N}{\mathit{H}}_2$ : This is the primary amide (starting material).
(ii) NaOH : The strong base required to deprotonate the amide and drive the rearrangement.
(iii) $\mathit{B}{\mathit{r}}_2$ : The halogen that reacts with the amide to form an N-bromoamide intermediate.
(iv) $\mathit{C}\mathit{H}\mathit{C}{\mathit{l}}_3$ : This is chloroform, which is notably not used here. Chloroform is a key reagent in the Carbylamine reaction, not the Hofmann degradation.