Question

What is the initial product of the acidic hydrolysis of a cyanide?

• A. A primary amide
• B. Anisocyanide
• C. An isocyanate
• D. A nitrile

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Acidic hydrolysis of a cyanide gives a primary amide as the initial product. Further hydrolysis of amide gives carboxylic acid.
$R-CN\stackrel{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O},{\mathrm{H}}^{+}}{\to }\underset{\text{primary amide}}{R-CON{H}_2}\stackrel{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O},{\mathrm{H}}^{+}}{\to }$