JEE Main Chemistry question

Alkyl iodide reacts with NaCN to give alkyl cyanide and a small amount of alkyl isocyanide. Formation of these two products is due to the

(A)ionic character of NaCN
(B)nucleophilic character of
(C)ambidentate character of Correct
(D)electrophilic character of

Answer: (C)

Solution

The cyanide ion, , is an ambidentate nucleophile — it can attack an electrophilic carbon through either its carbon atom or its nitrogen atom. Attack through carbon (the softer, more common site with alkyl halides) gives the alkyl cyanide (nitrile, ) as the major product, while attack

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Question ID VK-148030