10.15 Write the mechanism of the following reaction:

nBuBr + KCN nBuCN


The given reaction is:

nBuBr+KCNEOH-H2O nBuCN

The given reaction is an SN2 reaction. In this reaction, CN- acts as the nucleophile and
attacks the carbon atom to which Br is attached. CN- ion is an ambident nucleophile and
can attack through both C and N. In this case, it attacks through the C-atom.