Question

Arrange the following carbonyl compounds in the order of their favourability for formation of nitriles: CH3CH2CHO, CH3COCH3, HCOH and PhCOCH3 Justify your answer.

Answer 1

e^- density at carbonyl carbon increases with increase in the +I effect. The +I effect is more in ketone than aldehyde. So lesser the electron density greater will be the reactivity rate

Hence the order of reactivity will be :

HCOH > CH₃CH₂CHO > PhCOCH₃ > CH₃COCH₃