Developer site: The content shown here is test data.

MyEClinic
MyEClinic
Health Dictionary AI Health Chat Find an Online Doctor
A serene Zen garden with raked sand and smooth stones, symbolising clarity and calm

Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

Back to skin conditions

Stephen aldehyde synthesis

Introduction

Not to be confused with Stevens rearrangement.

Stephen aldehyde synthesis, a named reaction in chemistry, invented by Henry Stephen (OBE/MBE). This reaction involves the preparation of aldehydes (R-CHO) from nitriles (R-CN) using Tin(II) chloride (SnCl2), hydrochloric acid (HCl) and quenching the resulting iminium salt ([R-CH=NH2]+Cl–) with water (H2O).[1]

Overall, the reaction scheme is as follows:

File:Stephen aldehyde synthesis.png

References

  1. ↑ Stephen, H. (1925). “A new synthesis of aldehydes“. J. Chem. Soc., Trans. 127: 1874 &mdash, 1877. doi:10.1039/CT9252701874.