Following the NCERT convention, ethyl bromide is treated separately with (P) KNO2 and (Q) AgNO2. The main products are respectively

P: CH3CH2-O-N=O (nitrite); Q: CH3CH2-NO2 (nitroalkane)

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

JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3o1015

Following the NCERT convention, ethyl bromide is treated separately with (P) $KNO X_{2}$ and (Q) $AgNO X_{2}$ . The main products are respectively

AP: $CH X_{3} CH X_{2} - O - N = O$ (nitrite); Q: $CH X_{3} CH X_{2} - NO X_{2}$ (nitroalkane)
Bboth give $CH X_{3} CH X_{2} - O - N = O$
Cboth give $CH X_{3} CH X_{2} - NO X_{2}$
DP: $CH X_{3} CH X_{2} - NO X_{2}$ ; Q: $CH X_{3} CH X_{2} - O - N = O$

Answer: A

Nitrite is an ambident nucleophile. In ionic KNO2 the free anion attacks through its more electronegative, charge-dense oxygen to give the alkyl nitrite. In the more covalent AgNO2 the lone pair on nitrogen attacks to give the nitroalkane.

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

Previous questionNext question

Following the NCERT convention, ethyl bromide is treated separately with (P) KNOX2​ and (Q) AgNOX2​. The main products are respectively

Answer: A

More questions on Electrophiles, nucleophiles, nucleophilicity and leaving groups

Following the NCERT convention, ethyl bromide is treated separately with (P) $KNO X_{2}$ and (Q) $AgNO X_{2}$ . The main products are respectively