Interaction | Reaction | Process     Data Page

Cyanide ion nucleophilically attacks aldehydes to form alkoxide ions which are protonated to hydroxynitriles.

Overall the reaction is an addition to C=O.

The HCN (hydrogen cyanide) is generated in situ by adding dilute acid to an aqueous solution of sodium cyanide.
  +  
[CN]–
  +  
H+
         
Reactant Page Go To Go To
Aldehyde (AS/A2 generic)     Reactions Using    Reactions Forming
Cyanide ion     Reactions Using    Reactions Forming
Proton     Reactions Using    Reactions Forming
Hydroxynitrile (AS/A2 generic)     Reactions Using    Reactions Forming

Interaction, Reaction, Process defined as:
Addition
Addition: Nucleophilic
British A-Level Chemistry: A2

© Mark R. Leach 1999 –

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