Question

The reaction $RCN\underset{}{\overset{Sn{Cl}_2/HCl}{\to }}\left(A\right)\underset{}{\overset{H_{2}O}{\to }}RCHO+{NH}_{4}Cl$ is known as:

• A. Reformatsky reaction
• B. Stephen's reaction
• C. Tishchenko reaction
• D. Cannizzaro reaction

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Stephen's reaction

The reaction $RCN\underset{}{\overset{Sn{Cl}_2/HCl}{\to }}[R-CH=N{H}_2{]}^{+}C{l}^{-}\underset{}{\overset{H_{2}O}{\to }}RCHO+{NH}_{4}Cl$ is known as Stephen's reaction .
It involves the preparation of aldehydes ($R-CHO$) from nitriles ($R-CN$) using tin(II) chloride ($SnC{l}_2$), hydrochloric acid ($HCl$) and quenching the resulting iminium salt ($[R-CH=N{H}_2{]}^{+}C{l}^{-}$) with water ($H_{2}O$).