Question

Ethane nitrile to ethanol: convert?

Answer 1

Hint: Chemical compounds can be classified based on the functional groups attached to it. Nitriles are the chemical compounds consisting of a functional group \[ - CN\] . Nitriles are also known as cyanides. Nitriles can be converted into ethanol by hydrolysis followed by reduction by strong reducing agents.

Complete answer:
Cyanides are also known as nitriles consisting of a functional group \[ - CN\]the alkyl group is attached to the cyanide group. Ethane nitrile is a chemical compound with the molecular formula of \[C{H_3}CN\] it consists of methyl group and cyanide group. When hydrolysis is done to the cyanide compound, the \[ - CN\] group converts into \[ - COOH\] group.
Ethane nitrile can be converted into acetic acid by hydrolysis. As cyanides can be converted into acids by acidic hydrolysis. The product of acetic acid when treated with lithium aluminium hydride forms ethanol. When reduction is done with lithium aluminium hydride the \[ - COOH\] group turns into \[ - C{H_2}OH\]
Lithium aluminium hydride is a strong reducing agent with the molecular formula of \[LiAl{H_4}\] it belongs to the hydride family as the \[{H^ - }\] is present in the lithium aluminium hydride. Lithium aluminium hydride is used for reduction of other compounds.
The chemical reaction for the conversion of ethane nitrile to ethanol is as follows:
\[C{H_3}C \equiv N\xrightarrow{{{H_3}{O^ + }}}C{H_3}COOH\xrightarrow{{LiAl{H_4}}}C{H_3}C{H_2}OH\]

Note:
Only strong reducing agents like lithium aluminium hydride \[\left( {LiAl{H_4}} \right)\] and sodium borohydride \[\left( {NaB{H_4}} \right)\] which are belongs to the hydride family can be used for the reduction of nitriles to carboxylic acids as moderate reducing agents can reduce the nitriles to carbonyl compounds means aldehydes or ketones.