HCN and CN– in synthesis Increasing carbon chain length
Formation of C–CN Reaction of haloalkanes with CN– RBr + CN– RCN + Br– Reaction of carbonyl compounds with HCN: Aldehydes: RCHO + HCN RCH(CN)COH Ketones: RCOR’ + HCN RCR’(CN)COH
Haloalkane nitrile Reagents and conditions CN– ions, e.g. KCN(aq) in ethanol solvent Mechanism: Nucleophilic substitution C–C bond forms charge lone pair
Carbonyl nitrile Reagents and conditions CN– ions in dilute acid, e.g. KCN(aq)/H2SO4(aq) Mechanism: Nucleophilic addition charge lone pair C–C bond forms
Nitriles in synthesis Reduction amines H2 and Ni catalyst Acid hydrolysis carboxylic acids Aqueous acid, H+/H2O, e.g. HCl(aq) amine nitrile carboxylic acid nitrile