Properties of Isocyanides:

1.   Alkyl isocyanides are poisonous, unpleasant smelling, with lower boiling points than isomeric cyanides.

2.   RNC are not very soluble in water, nitrogen atom not having a lone pair of electrons available for hydrogen bonding.

Reactions:

1.   Hydrolysis:

      RNC are not hydrolysed by alkalis.

2.   Reduction:

                          2^o amine

3.   When alkyl isocyanides are heated for a long time, they arrange to form cyanide

      RNC ———> R CN

      CH₃CH₂NC ———> CH₃CH₂CN

4.   With non metals:

      (i)   RNC + X₂ ———> RNCX₂

            CH₃NC + Cl₂ ——> CH₃NCCl₂

      (ii)   RNC + S ———> RNCS

            Alkyl isothiocyanates

        CH₃NC + S ———> CH₃NCS

5.   Oxidation with HgO:

      RNC + HgO ———> RNCO + Hg

                                  Akyl isocyanates

     CH₃NC + HgO ———> CH₃NCO + Hg

Illustration .  Identify the end product (C)

Solution:
	Hence (A) is correct.

Exercise.

(i)

            Identify A, B and C.

            (ii)       Write a reaction in which methyl isocyanate (MIC) is formed. What products are formed when it is hydrolysed with water?