The major product in the reaction of ethyl chloride with ethanolic AgCN

Ethyl Chloride and Silver Cyanide Reaction

Major Product of Ethyl Chloride with Ethanolic Silver Cyanide

The major product formed when ethyl chloride (C₂H₅Cl) reacts with alcoholic silver cyanide (AgCN) is ethyl isocyanide (C₂H₅NC), not ethyl cyanide (C₂H₅CN).

Explanation:

• When ethyl chloride undergoes nucleophilic substitution with AgCN in an alcoholic medium, the cyanide ion (CN^-) from AgCN attacks the ethyl carbocation intermediate. However, due to the nature of AgCN, the nitrogen atom of the cyanide group links to the ethyl group instead of the carbon atom, resulting in the formation of an isocyanide (also called isonitrile).
• The reaction proceeds as follows: 
  C₂H₅Cl → C₂H₅NC + AgCl
• Ethyl isocyanide is a functional isomer of ethyl cyanide but differs in the connectivity of the cyanide functional group.
• Silver chloride (AgCl) precipitates out of the solution as a byproduct.

Key Points:

• With AgCN, the reaction favors formation of isocyanides.
• With potassium cyanide (KCN) or sodium cyanide (NaCN), the product would predominantly be alkyl cyanides (like ethyl cyanide).
• This difference arises because AgCN is covalent and attacks via nitrogen, whereas ionic cyanides attack via carbon.

Thus, the major product of the reaction of ethyl chloride with ethanolic silver cyanide is ethyl isocyanide (C₂H₅NC).