Question

What happens when bromoethane is treated with alcoholic silver cyanide?

Answer 1

When bromoethane (CH₃CH₂Br) is treated with alcoholic silver cyanide (AgCN), it undergoes a nucleophilic substitution reaction. This reaction leads to the formation of ethyl isocyanide (CH₃CH₂NC).

\[\ce{\underset{bromoethane}{CH3CH2Br} + \underset{silver cyanide}{AgCN} -> \underset{ethyl isocyanide}{CH3CH2NC} + \underset{silver bromide}{AgBr}}\]