Question

Alkyl cyanides on reduction by sodium and ethanol give primary amines. This reaction is called as ____________.

Options

• Hell-Vohlard-Zelinsky reaction

• Clemmensen reduction

• Wolff-Kishner reduction

• Mendius reduction

Answer 1

Alkyl cyanides on reduction by sodium and ethanol give primary amines. This reaction is called as Mendius reduction.

Explanation:

\[\ce{\underset{\text{Alkyl cyanide}}{R - C ≡ N} + 4[H] ->[Na/Ethanol] \underset{\text{Primary amine}}{R - CH2 - NH2}}\]

Mendius reduction is the name given to the reaction. The cyano group \[\ce{(- C ≡ N)}\] is reduced in this process.

In the presence of salt and alcohol, \[\ce{(- C ≡ N)}\] is caused by nascent hydrogen. The cyano group's X link is broken here by nascent hydrogen.