Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Steenrod on November 13, 2012, 01:36:07 PM
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Why does pure HCN not react with aldehydes and ketones?
Thanks.
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Have you any ideas as to this reaction?
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I regret to say "None";my knowledge is superficial. :(
All I know is that this the cyanoydrin reaction.
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Well what do you know about cyanohydrin formation?
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I thought they would react. Do I not understand the question, as in literally true? In the formation of a cyanohydrin, one adds HCN.
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I just realized that most questions I have posted are actually standard stuff.I have not really read this systematically.
I consulted a few books(not my text!) and here is what I got:
The carbon in HCN is nucleophilic and it bonds with the carbonyl carbon.But HCN is a weak acid and so KCN or NaCN is used in order that free cyanide ion is always present in amounts sufficient to increse the rate of reaction.
So, am I right? And books seem to suggest that the reaction does occur but very slowly.So, the question is not totally correct?(LOL,I picked up a warning because of this)
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It seems that your books would have a reasonable answer. So they are correct and by default so are you.
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/mechanisms/nucadd/hcntt.html (http://www.chemguide.co.uk/mechanisms/nucadd/hcntt.html)