Aldehydes and ketones (A-level only)

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Question 7
Medium

Butanal reacts with potassium cyanide, followed by dilute acid, to form 2-hydroxypentanenitrile.

1.

Name the mechanism for the reaction between potassium cyanide and butanal.

[1]
2.

The 2-hydroxypentanenitrile formed by the reaction is a mixture of equal amounts of two isomers.

  • State the name of this type of mixture.
  • Explain how the structure of butanal leads to the formation of two isomers.
  • Draw 3D representations of the two isomers to show the relationship between them.
[5]
3.

2-Hydroxypentanenitrile can be used in the synthesis of the monomer, pent-2-enenitrile, CH3CH2CH=CHCN\text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CH}=\text{CHCN}CH3​CH2​CH=CHCN. Suggest a suitable reagent and conditions for this dehydration reaction.

[2]
4.

Draw a section of the polymer poly(pent-2-enenitrile), showing three repeating units.

[2]

Aldehydes and ketones (A-level only) Questions

  1. A Level
  2. /Chemistry
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