Haloalkanes react with KCN to form alkyl cyanides as main product while AgCN forms isocyanides as the chief product. Explain.

Options

A. Ionic character of NaCN
B. Nucleophilic character of `CN^(-)`
C. Ambidentate character of `CN^(-)`
D. Electrophilic character of `CN^(-)`

Answer

C

Explanation

`:overset(theta)(CdotN):` has ambidentate character because `:overset(theta)(CdotN):` has double attacking site
`R-I overset(NaCN)(rarr)underset("Major")RCN+underset("Minor")RNC`