The Zn(CN)2 reacts with the HCl to form the key HCN reactant and Zn(Cl)2 that serves as the Lewis-acid catalyst in-situ. An example of the Zn(CN)2 method is the synthesis of mesitaldehyde from mesitylene.
The reaction of zinc cyanide (Zn(CN)2) with hydrochloric acid (HCl) produces hydrogen cyanide (HCN), a key reactant, and zinc chloride (Zn(Cl)2), which acts as a Lewis acid catalyst in the reaction mixture. The Zn(CN)2 method is used for synthesizing mesitaldehyde from mesitylene.