JEE Main · 2022 · 29 Jul 2022 · Shift 1 · Compounds Containing Nitrogen

In NaCN, the carbon atom is more nucleophilic and attacks the electrophilic carbon, forming a nitrile (compound A: $\mathrm{CH}{}_3\mathrm{CH}{}_2\mathrm{CN}$, propanenitrile). In AgCN, the Ag-C bond has covalent character, making nitrogen more nucleophilic, leading to isocyanide formation (compound B: $\mathrm{CH}{}_3\mathrm{CH}{}_2\mathrm{NC}$, ethyl isocyanide). This difference arises from the nature of the metal-carbon bond in the two reagents.