Question

How do you prepare Ethyl cyanide and Ethyl isocyanide from a common alkylhalide ?

Answer 1

Preparation of ethyl cyanide : Ethyl chloride reacts with aq. Ethanolic KCN to form Ethyl cyanide as a major product
`C_(2)H_(5)Cl+KCN overset(Delta) to underset("Ethyl cyanide")(C_(2)H_(5)CN+KCl)`
Preparation of Ethyl isocyanide : Ethyl chloride reacts with aq. Ethanolic AgCN to form Ethyl iso cyanide as a major product
`C_(2)H_(5)Cl+AgCN to underset("Ethyl isocyanide")(C_(2)H_(5)NC+AgCl)`