Q.Methyl isocyanide ($\text{CH}_3\text{NC}$) is hydrolysed under acidic aqueous conditions. Name the two products formed, and explain how this outcome differs from the hydrolysis of the isomeric methyl cyanide.

Acidic hydrolysis of methyl isocyanide breaks the molecule so that nitrogen (still bonded to the methyl group) is retained as the amine, while the terminal carbon is expelled as a one-carbon acid: $\text{CH}_3\text{NC} + 2\text{H}_2\text{O} \xrightarrow{\text{H}^+, \Delta} \text{CH}_3\text{NH}_2 + \text{HCOOH}$. This is the exact reverse pattern of methyl cyanide's hydrolysis (Example 30's family): there, nitrogen leaves as ammonia and carbon is retained in the acid; here, carbon leaves as fo …

Identify which atom (C or N) is bonded to $\text{R}$ in the isocyanide, then keep that atom in the organic …

Writing the SAME products as nitrile hydrolysis (a carboxylic acid plus ammonia) -- isocyanide hydrolysis gives …