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 :

$H_2CO>$ $CH_3CH_2CHO > PhCOCH_3>$ $CH_3COCH_3$