Q.Write the name of reduction product formed when ethyl cyanide is treated with sodium and alcohol.

Amines are built by five general strategies, each testable by 'which reagent gives which amine class'. (1) FROM NITRO COMPOUNDS: H2/Ni (or Sn/HCl, Pd/H2) reduces a nitroalkane/nitroarene to a PRIMARY amine (nitroethane to ethanamine; nitrobenzene to aniline). (2) FROM NITRILES: H2/Ni (or LiAlH4, or Na/C2H5OH -- the Na/ethanol variant specifically called the MENDIUS REACTION) reduces a cyanide to a PRIMARY amine; reducing an ISOCYANIDE instead (Na(Hg)/C2H5OH) gives a SECONDARY amine. (3) FROM AMIDES: LiAlH4 reduces an amide to the amine (same carbon count); HOFMANN'S DEGRADATION instead treats an amide with Br2/KOH to give a primary amine with ONE CARBON FEWER than the parent amide -- this carbon-shortening is the diagnostic signature of Hofmann degradation. (4) FROM ALKYL HALIDES: the GABRIEL PHTHALIMIDE SYNTHESIS (phthalimide to potassium phthalimide to N-alkylphthalimide via SN2 with R-X to hydrolysis) gives a pure PRIMARY amine and CANNOT make aniline (aryl halides resist the SN2 step); HOFMANN'S AMMONOLYSIS (R-X + alcoholic NH3, sealed tube) instead gives a mixture of 1/2/3 degree amines plus qu …