Question

14.2-hydroxyl propanoic acid can be prepared in the following two steps starting from ethanal:
Step 1
CH3 CHO____CH3CHOHCN step 2 ____CH3CHOHCO2
a. What is the reagent and condition for the two steps?
(A) HCN, acid hydration
(B) NaCN in alcohol, oxidation with H2O2
(C) HCN, acidic hydrolysis
(D) NaCN in alcohol, reduction Sn + HCI​

Answer 1

Treatment of acetaldehyde with sodium cyanide in the presence of HCl gives acetaldehyde cyanohydrin.

This is followed by hydrolysis of cyano group in the presence of acid to form compound A, which is 2-hydroxy propanoic acid.

The hydroxyl group is then oxidized to carbonyl group with fenton reagent to obtain compound B, which is Pyruvic acid