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How would you synthesize the following compounds from butanenitrile using reagents from the table?

A. 2-Methyl-3-hexanone
B. Pentanoic acid

User EpicAdv
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To synthesize the given compounds from butanenitrile, you can follow these steps:

A. 2-Methyl-3-hexanone:
1. Grignard Reaction: React butanenitrile (CH3CH2CH2CN) with 2 equivalents of methylmagnesium bromide (CH3MgBr) to form a tertiary alcohol.
2. Oxidation: Oxidize the tertiary alcohol to a ketone using an oxidizing agent like PCC (Pyridinium chlorochromate).

B. Pentanoic acid:
1. Hydrolysis: React butanenitrile (CH3CH2CH2CN) with H2O in the presence of a strong acid like HCl to form a carboxylic acid (butanoic acid).
2. Oxidation: Oxidize butanoic acid to pentanoic acid using an oxidizing agent like KMnO4 (potassium permanganate) or K2Cr2O7 (potassium dichromate) under acidic conditions.

User WaTeim
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