Question

How will you prepare: propiophenone from propane nitrile.

Answer 1

Hint: The chemical reactions which involve organic compounds are known as organic reactions. Generally, the main motive for the occurrence of the chemical reactions is to form more stable compounds. It is to be remembered always that stronger elements have the power to displace the weaker ones.

Complete step by step answer:
Propane nitrile is an organic compound with the chemical formula of $C{H_3}C{H_2}CN$. It is also known as ethyl cyanide. For the conversion of propane nitrile to propiophenone, firstly acid hydrolysis of propane nitrile is done. Acid hydrolysis is a process in which a protic acid is used to catalyze the cleavage of a chemical bond by a nucleophilic substitution reaction with the addition of water $\left( {{H_2}O} \right)$. This step can be written as:

Then, the propionic acid undergoes the nucleophilic substitution reaction by using the Grignard’s reagent. In nucleophilic substitution reaction, a leaving group is replaced by an electron rich compound which is called a nucleophile. This reaction can be written as:

Hence, propane nitrile is converted into propiophenone.

Note:
Propionitrile, also known as ethyl cyanide and propanenitrile, is an organic compound with the formula $CH_3CH_2CN$. It is a simple aliphatic nitrile. The compound is a colourless, water-soluble liquid. It is used as a solvent and a precursor to other organic compounds.