Question

Account for the following:

Haloalkanes react with \[\ce{AgCN}\] to form isocyanide as main product.

Answer 1

Since only one pair of nitrogen electrons is available for bond formation and \[\ce{Ag - CN}\] is primarily covalent. Consequently, the main product of the reaction between haloalkanes and \[\ce{AgCN}\] is alkyl isocyanides.