Chapter 16: Organic Synthesis

Question 1

What happens when you react a haloalkane with potassium cyanide and what conditions do you need?

Answer 1

C-N replaces the X and produces a nitrile and KX

Nucleophilic substitution

Question 2

Forming nitriles from aldehydes and ketones

Answer 2

Aldehydes and ketones react with hydrogen cyanide creating a hydroxynitrile

(H2SO4 and NaCN)

Nucleophile addition

Question 3

Reduction of nitriles

Answer 3

React them in the presence of hydrogen and nickel

Triple bond C-N goes to NH2

Question 4

Hydrolysis of nitriles

Answer 4

They undergo hydrolysis to form carboxylic acids (requires H2O and HCl)

Triple bond C-N goes to COOH

Also forms NH4Cl

Question 5

Nucleophile

Answer 5

An atom/group that is attracted to an electron-deficient centre, where it donates a pair of electrons to form a new covalent bond.