Question

Which of the following is the major product when tert-butyl chloride is treated with potassium cyanide in aqueous ethanolic solution ?
A. tert-Butyl cyanide
B. tert-Butyl isocyanide
C. tert-Butyl ether
D. Iso-butene

Answer 1

Correct Answer - D
`CN^(-)` acts as a strong base with tertiary alkyl halides. Consequently, the later undergoes dehydrohalogenation to from alkenes.
`underset("tert-Butyl chloride")(CH_(3)-overset(CH_(3))overset("| ")underset(CH_(3))underset("| ")("C ")-Cl)overset(KCN)rarr underset("Isobutene")(CH_(3)-underset(CH_(3))underset("| ")("C ")=CH_(2))+HCN+KCl`