What is the reaction mechanism when HCN reacts with propanone and benzaldehyde?

1 Answer
Aug 20, 2016

I believe this is a cyanohydrin formation

Explanation:

The CN- in this case is acting as a nucleophile. It will come and attack the partial positive carbon of the ketone and/or benzaldehyde.

The pi bonds on the Carbonyl carbon break after the attack and the electrons go to the oxygen, which now bears a negative charge.

A proton will come and protonate the alkoxy group to turn it into an alcohol.

Your resulting product is a cyanohydrin