Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Chemistry

Chapter

Organic: Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

Question:

Butanitrile is formed by reaction of KCN with

Options:

Butyl chloride

Propyl chloride

Butyl alcohol

Propyl alcohol

Correct Answer:

Propyl chloride

Explanation:

The reaction of propyl chloride with KCN is a nucleophilic substitution reaction, in which the cyanide ion \((CN^-)\) attacks the propyl chloride molecule and displaces the chloride ion.  The reaction proceeds through an \(S_N2\) mechanism, which means that the nucleophile \((CN^-)\) attacks the electrophile (propyl chloride) from the back, resulting in inversion of stereochemistry.

Therefore the correct answer is (2).