a) From haloalkanes: Nitriles can be prepared from haloalkanes, by SN2 processes. The reaction gives good performance with primary and secondary substrates, the tertiary ones are preferentially eliminated, forming alkenes.
![synthesis-nitriles sintesis-nitrilos](/images/stories/organica-ii/nitrilos/sintesis/sintesis-nitrilos-01.png)
b) From carbonyls: Aldehydes and ketones react with hydrocyanic acid, forming cyanohydrins.
![synthesis-nitriles sintesis-nitrilos](/images/stories/organica-ii/nitrilos/sintesis/sintesis-nitrilos-02.png)
c) From amides: amides dehydrate to give nitriles. Powerful dehydrants are used, such as P 2 O 5 , which remove a water molecule from the amide, converting it to nitrile.
![synthesis-nitriles sintesis-nitrilos](/images/stories/organica-ii/nitrilos/sintesis/sintesis-nitrilos-03.png)