Nucleophilic addition to carbonyls
Nucleophilic addition to carbonyls
Formula
R−C=O + Nu⁻ → R−C(Nu)−O⁻
Real World
The reaction of ethanal with HCN to form 2-hydroxypropanenitrile (a cyanohydrin) is a key industrial step used by companies like Röhm to manufacture methacrylate monomers for Perspex.
Exam Focus
Show the curly arrow from the nucleophile's lone pair to the δ+ carbonyl carbon — marks are lost if the arrow points to the oxygen.
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