Question

Hydrolysis of alkyl nitriles for preparing carboxylic acid requires:

• A. Acidic condition
• B. Alkaline condition
• C. Any of the above (a) and (b)
• D. Both are simultaneously necessary

Answer 1

The correct option is C Any of the above (a) and (b)

Converting the nitrile into a carboxylic acid
There are two ways of doing this, both of which involve reacting the carbon-nitrogen triple bond with water. This is described as hydrolysis.
Acid hydrolysis:
The nitrile is heated under reflux with a dilute acid such as dilute hydrochloric acid. A carboxylic acid is formed. For example, starting from ethanenitrile you would get ethanoic acid.
Base hydrolysis:
The nitrile is heated under reflux with an alkali such as sodium hydroxide solution.
Mechanism:
The reaction passes through an amide intermediate.
Both acid and base catalyzes the hydrolysis reaction.