How can We Convert Ethanol to Propanenitrile

Answer: The following processes can be used to convert ethanol to propane nitrile.

• To make bromoethane, ethanol goes through a bromination reaction first. In the presence of a catalyst known as red P/Br ethanol is transformed to bromo ethane.

CH₃ – CH₂ – OH + KBr_Ethanol→^redP/BrCH₃ – CH₂ – Br_Bromoethane

• In the presence of a catalyst known as KCN/ Aq.ethanol, the intermediate product bromoethane is transformed into propane nitrile.

CH₃ – CH₂ – Br_Bromoethane→^{KCN, Aq. ethanol}CH₃ – CH₂ – CN_{Propanenitrile}