Hello,

---- Alkyl nitriles on reduction with stannous (II) chloride and hydrochloric acid in dry ether give corresponding imine hydrochlorides which on acid hydrolysis, give corresponding aldehydes. This reaction is known as Stephen's reaction.

--- If you wish to prepare Benzaldehyde using Stephen's reaction, then you will have to use 'BENZONITRILE' (C6H5CN)

------ Reation can be displayed as -

•  C6H5CN + SnCl2 + HCl + H2O ----> C6H5-CH=NH

• C6H5-CH=NH + H2O ----> C6H5-CHO + NH3

I hope you find the answer helpful.

Thank you.

Hi!!!

Hope you are doing well.

In Stephen reduction reaction when methyl nitrile reacts with Hydrochloric acid and tin chloride it produces the iminium salt. This iminium salt further quench with water to give aldehyde as product

Hope you are clear now. Feel free to ask if you have any other queries. All The Best!!!

Hi reader ,

The reaction describes the preparation of aldehydes from nitriles with the help of tin(II) chloride and hydrochloric acid

there is an imine intermediate formed when the nitrile undergoes reduction with stannous chloride and hydrogen chloride gas (in ethyl acetate solvent). This imine intermediate is subjected to hydrolysis to yield the corresponding aldehyde.

i hope this helps

thank you