Question

How can we convert ethanol to propane nitrile?

Answer 1

Ethanol is an organic compound in which the functional group is alcohol (-OH) and propane nitrile is an organic compound in which the functional group is nitrile (-CN). This conversion will have 2 steps, which first the hydroxyl group will be converted to halogen and then the halogen will be converted into nitrile.

Complete answer:
We have to convert ethanol to propane nitrile, both the compounds are organic compounds. Ethanol is a compound in which there are two carbon atoms and a functional group is a hydroxyl group (-OH), hence it is a member of the alcohol group. Therefore, the formula of ethanol is $C{{H}_{3}}-C{{H}_{2}}-OH$. Propanenitrile is a compound in which there is a total of three carbon atoms and the functional group is nitrile (-CN), hence it is a member of a nitrile group. Therefore, the formula of propane nitrile is $C{{H}_{3}}-C{{H}_{2}}-CN$. So, we have to increase one carbon atom in the reactant to form the product.
This conversion will have 2 steps, which first the hydroxyl group will be converted to halogen and then the halogen will be converted into nitrile.
So, first, we can convert ethanol to Bromoethane. To convert this we can use red phosphorus and bromine as a catalyst. The reaction is given below:
$C{{H}_{3}}-C{{H}_{2}}-OH\xrightarrow[B{{r}_{2}}]{red\text{ }P}C{{H}_{3}}-C{{H}_{2}}-Br$
In the second step, we can have to convert Bromoethane to propane nitrile. To convert this we can use potassium cyanide and aqueous ethanol as a catalyst. The reaction is given below:
$C{{H}_{3}}-C{{H}_{2}}-Br\xrightarrow[Aq.\text{ }ethanol]{KCN}C{{H}_{3}}-C{{H}_{2}}-CN$

Note:
While converting an organic compound then you have to be careful about the number of carbon atoms in the reactant and product. Propanenitrile is also called ethyl cyanide as –CN group is also known as cyanide.