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Propanone to 2-Hydroxy-2-Methylpropanenitrile Reaction

When reacting propanone with hydrogen cyanide, 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanenitrile is produced. The reaction is typically done by mixing the ketone with a solution of sodium or potassium cyanide and sulfuric acid in water, which produces hydrogen cyanide at a pH of 4-5 for the fastest reaction. Adjusting the pH and using a salt solution allows the reaction to proceed at room temperature without using pure hydrogen cyanide directly due to its toxicity.

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3 views1 page

Propanone to 2-Hydroxy-2-Methylpropanenitrile Reaction

When reacting propanone with hydrogen cyanide, 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanenitrile is produced. The reaction is typically done by mixing the ketone with a solution of sodium or potassium cyanide and sulfuric acid in water, which produces hydrogen cyanide at a pH of 4-5 for the fastest reaction. Adjusting the pH and using a salt solution allows the reaction to proceed at room temperature without using pure hydrogen cyanide directly due to its toxicity.

Uploaded by

buttermoomoo
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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With propanone (a ketone) you get 2-

hydroxy-2-methylpropanenitrile:

Note: When you are naming these


compounds, don't forget that the longest
carbon chain has to include the carbon
in the -CN group. The carbon with the
nitrogen attached is always counted as
the number 1 carbon in the chain.

The reaction isn't normally done using


hydrogen cyanide itself, because this is
an extremely poisonous gas. Instead,
the aldehyde or ketone is mixed with a
solution of sodium or potassium
cyanide in water to which a little
sulphuric acid has been added. The pH
of the solution is adjusted to about 4 -
5, because this gives the fastest
reaction. The reaction happens at
room temperature.
The solution will contain hydrogen
cyanide (from the reaction between the
sodium or potassium cyanide and the
sulphuric acid), but still contains some

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