What does Gabriel synthesis involve?

Gabriel synthesis is a well-known organic reaction that specifically involves the synthesis of primary amines from phthalimide. The process effectively utilizes a halide (usually an alkyl halide) to introduce an R group, while also making use of nitrogen from the phthalimide structure to create a new carbon-nitrogen bond. In this reaction, phthalimide is treated with a strong base to form a nucleophilic nitrogen species, which then attacks the carbon of the halide, resulting in the substitution that leads to the formation of the primary amine.

This mechanism clearly distinguishes Gabriel synthesis from other chemical reactions related to amino acids or peptide bonds, which involve different types of bonding and functional groups. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the essence of the Gabriel synthesis, focusing on the connection of an R group via a halide and incorporating nitrogen in the reaction process.