UPSC Civil Services (Mains), Chemistry optional · 2024 · Paper II
Q3(a)(i). Methyl cyanide heated with dilute HCl
Question
Predict the reaction mechanism and the major product formed when methyl cyanide is heated with dilute hydrochloric acid.
Answer in brief
Major product: acetic acid (with NH₄Cl). CH₃CN + 2 H₂O + HCl → CH₃COOH + NH₄Cl, through acetamide.
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Coversnitrile hydrolysisacetonitrilenitrilium ionimidic acidacetamideacid-catalysed hydrolysis
All parts of Question 3
- 3(a)(i) Methyl cyanide heated with dilute HCl10 marks
- 3(a)(ii) Bromine addition to cis- and trans-2-butene5 marks
- 3(b)(i) Enone from a methoxy triene5 marks
- 3(b)(ii) Classify the rearrangement at 33 °C5 marks
- 3(b)(iii) Methoxy methyl benzoquinone with butadiene5 marks
- 3(c)(i) Acyl chloride to isocyanate; singlet and triplet nitrene10 marks
- 3(c)(ii) Indole at C-3; inertness of chlorobenzene10 marks