[redbaron]

Hello,
We're learning organic chemistry in my chem class, and I have a question on my homework that has stumped me and my friends. It is a replacement reaction, which I haven't learned yet. The question asks how to get 2-methylhexanonitrile from 2-methylhexane. If I am correct, you would start with:
    CH3 H  H  H  H
      |   |   |   |   |
H3C -  C - C - C - C - CH3
      |   |   |   |   |
      H   H  H  H  H

and try to replace the ending CH3 (H3C) with and NC to get something like:
  CH3 H  H  H  H
    |   |   |   |   |
NC -  C - C - C - C - CH3
    |   |   |   |   |
    H   H  H  H  H

But how could you achieve this though without replacing all of the CH3 molecules? Can anyone help?

[Albert]

Check out the heating. However, you won't yield this product only.

[Dan]

That was my first thought too, but as Albert said, it will be messy.

[Albert]

Well, you know, Dan, it's just an exercise, isn't it? We may even use F₂.

[redbaron]

Ah, thanks for the help- I'll get back to you on what my teacher had in mind. 

[Dan]

Well, you know, Dan, it's just an exercise, isn't it? We may even use F₂.

Yeah I know, I was just agreeing with you, I wasn't criticising you.

[Albert]

Come on, Dan: you didn't get the meaning of my post. I know you weren't criticising me.

I just pointed out that, being this a high school exercise only, we should think about the answer just as a possible way of yielding the nitrile.