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. Isocyanides are foul smelling compounds and confirms the test with primary amines.
For example, the reaction with ethylamine:
The reaction with aniline:
The carbylamine reaction with aniline
The carbylamine test does not give a positive reaction with secondary and tertiary amines.