[shrapnash]

Can halogenoalkanes react with hydrogen cyanide instead of aqueous potassium cyanide ?

[RAMKI]

Can halogenoalkanes react with hydrogen cyanide instead of aqueous potassium cyanide ?

you need basic conditions.so if you use say pot carbonate/ pot hydroxide you will go through pot cyacinde.even sodium cyanide works.
ramki

[lutesium]

This may be well explained by the basic conditions first turn your H-CN to NaCN or KCN then react it with your Alkyl Halide creating the Nitrile and a salt Na-X or K-X

H-CN is unreactive with R-X because the byproduct is an acid (H-X) whereas H-CN is also an acid.

Hope this helps!


Lutesium...