Stephen reaction is called as stephen reduction reaction or stephen aldehyde synthesis.
In this reaction, the alkyl nitrile is reduced to its respective imine in the presence of stannous chloride and hydrochloride acid to give aldehyde as the product.
Chemical Reaction of Stephen reaction
The general Stephen reaction is as follows,
Methyl nitrile is reacted in presence of stannous chloride and hydrochloric acid to give an intermediate, which is further treated with water, to eliminate ammonium chloride and to give the final product ethanal .