MolSynapsequestion bank

MolSynapse / Question bank / Organic Reaction Mechanisms I: Nucleophiles and Carbonyl Addition / Electrophiles, nucleophiles, nucleophilicity and leaving groups

JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3o1014

Ethyl bromide is warmed with ethanolic $KCN$ . The main organic product is

A $CH X_{3} CH X_{2} - OH$
B $CH X_{2} = CH X_{2}$
C $CH X_{3} CH X_{2} - CN$
D $CH X_{3} CH X_{2} - NC$

Answer: C

Cyanide is an ambident nucleophile. With an ionic cyanide such as KCN carbon, the better nucleophilic site toward

s p^{3}

carbon, forms the new C-C bond, so propanenitrile

CH X_{3} CH X_{2} - CN

is the main product. The isonitrile is obtained mainly with covalent AgCN.

Practice Organic Reaction Mechanisms I: Nucleophiles and Carbonyl Addition More on Electrophiles, nucleophiles, nucleophilicity and leaving groups

Previous questionNext question

More questions on Electrophiles, nucleophiles, nucleophilicity and leaving groups