Question

How acetone is prepared from nitriles using Grignard reagent?

Answer 1

Acetone is prepared from n itriles using Grignard reagent in dry ether as solvent followed by acid hydrolysis.

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{\underset{(Ethane nitrile)}{H3C - CN}+\underset{(Grinard reagent)}{H3C-Mg-Cl}->[dry][ether]CH3 - C = NMgCl}\\
\phantom{..............................}|\\
\phantom{................................}\ce{\underset{(Complex)}{CH3}}
\end{array}\]

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\phantom{...............................................}\ce{Cl}\\
\phantom{............................................}/\\
\ce{CH3 - C = NMgCl->[H3O^⊕][Hydrolysis]CH3 - C - CH3 + Mg + NH3}\\
\phantom{....}|\ \phantom{...........................}||\ \phantom{...........} \backslash\phantom{.....}\\
\ce{\phantom{..........}CH3\phantom{......................} \underset{(Acetone)}{O}\phantom{........}OH\phantom{............}}
\end{array}\]