When an alkyl halide is heated with alcoholic solution of silver cyanide, alkyl isocyanide is formed. Isocyanides are also called carbylamines.
R - X + AgCN \(\overset{alcohol}{\longrightarrow}\) R - NC + AgX
Ex: When ethyl bromide is heated with alcoholic silver cyanide solution, ethylisocyanide (ethylcarbylamine) is formed.
CH3 - CH2 - Br + AgCN \(\overset{alcohol}{\longrightarrow}\) CH3 - CH2 - NC + AgBr
