Reduction of an isonitrile gives a

Options

A. primary amine
B. secondary amine
C. tertiary amine
D. quaternary ammonium salt.

Answer

To determine the product of the reduction of an isonitrile, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Structure of Isonitrile**:
- Isonitriles have the general formula R-N≡C, where R is an alkyl or aryl group. For example, let's consider an isonitrile like CH3-CH2-N≡C.

2. **Choose a Reducing Agent**:
- Common reducing agents for the reduction of isonitriles include hydrogen gas (H2) in the presence of a catalyst such as nickel (Ni) or platinum (Pt).

3. **Understand the Reduction Mechanism**:
- During the reduction, the isonitrile undergoes a reaction where the carbon-nitrogen triple bond is reduced. The nitrogen atom has a lone pair of electrons, which can participate in the reaction.

4. **Nucleophilic Attack**:
- The carbon atom in the isonitrile is negatively charged and acts as a nucleophile. It attacks a proton (H+) from the reducing agent, leading to the formation of a new bond.

5. **Formation of the Amine**:
- As the reaction proceeds, the triple bond between carbon and nitrogen is broken. The nitrogen atom, which has a lone pair, can now bond to another hydrogen atom, resulting in the formation of a secondary amine.

6. **Final Product**:
- The final product of the reduction of isonitrile is a secondary amine. For the example CH3-CH2-N≡C, the product would be CH3-CH2-CH2-NH2, which is a secondary amine.

### Conclusion:
The reduction of an isonitrile gives a secondary amine.

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