BRAINCAKENitriles from Haloalkanes
Haloalkanes react with cyanide ions to form nitriles, compounds containing the -C≡N group. The chain gains one carbon atom.
Reagents and conditions: sodium cyanide or potassium cyanide in ethanol, heated under reflux. Ethanol is the solvent; if water were used, hydroxide ions would also substitute and some alcohol would form.
Equation
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More in Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation
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All 8 lessons in Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation · All OCR A-level Organic Chemistry topics