The secondary and tertiary amides are the compounds which one or both hydrogens in primary amides are replaced by other groups. The names of secondary and tertiary amides are denoted by the replaced groups with the prefix capital N (meaning nitrogen) prior to the names of parent amides. Low molecular weight amides are soluble in water due to the formation of hydrogen bonds. primary amides have higher melting and boiling points than secondary and tertiary amides.

A process for preparing a quinolone antibiotic intermediate having the formula: wherein R is Ci-C2 alkyl, Ci-C2 fluoroalkyl, C2-C4 alkenyl, methoxy, chloro, or bromo; R'is a unit selected from the group consisting of Ci-C2 alkyl, C2-C3 alkenyl, C3-C5 cycloalkyl, and phenyl, each of which can be substituted by one or more fluorine atoms; said process comprising the step of cyclizing an admixture of quinolone precursors, said admixture comprising a 2-ethoxy substituted intermediate having the formula: in the presence of a silylating agent.

Amide is a group of organic chemicals with the general formula RCO-NH2 in which a carbon atom is attached to oxygen in double bond and also attached to an hydroxyl group, where 'R' groups range from hydrogen to various linear and ring structures or a compound with a metal replacing hydrogen in ammonia such as sodium amide, NaNH₂.

Amides are divided into subclasses according to the number of substituents on nitrogen. The primary amide is formed from by replacement of the carboxylic hydroxyl group by the NH2, amino group. An example is acetamide (acetic acid + amide). Amide is obtained by reaction of an acid chloride, acid anhydride, or ester with an amine. Amides are named with adding '-ic acid' or '-oic acid' from the name of the parent carboxylic acid and replacing it with the suffix 'amide'. Amide can be formed from ammonia (NH₃).

The secondary and tertiary amides are the compounds which one or both hydrogens in primary amides are replaced by other groups. The names of secondary and tertiary amides are denoted by the replaced groups with the prefix capital N (meaning nitrogen) prior to the names of parent amides. Low molecular weight amides are soluble in water due to the formation of hydrogen bonds. primary amides have higher melting and boiling points than secondary and tertiary amides.