Question

${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{CN}+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\stackrel{\mathrm{Na}\left(\mathrm{Hg}\right)/{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}}{\to }$?

Answer 1

• This reaction is the complete reduction of nitriles and is known as the Mendius reaction.
• In this reaction, the nitriles get reduced in the presence of sodium $\left(\mathrm{Na}\right)$ and Ethyl alcohol $\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}\right)$ to primary amines.
• The reaction is as follows:
• $\underset{\mathrm{Methyl}\mathrm{nitrile}}{{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{CN}}+\underset{\mathrm{Hydrogen}}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2}\stackrel{\mathrm{Na}\left(\mathrm{Hg}\right)/{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}}{\to }\underset{\mathrm{Ethyl}\mathrm{amine}}{{\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2{\mathrm{NH}}_2}$