Benzyl cyanide

Benzyl cyanide
Names


Preferred IUPAC name Phenylacetonitrile^[1]
Other names Benzyl cyanide^[1] 2-Phenylacetonitrile α-Tolunitrile Benzylnitrile
Identifiers
CAS Number	140-29-4^Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:25979^Y
ChemSpider	13839308^Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.004.919
KEGG	C16074^Y
PubChem CID	8794
UNII	23G40PRP93^Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID2021492
InChI InChI=1S/C8H7N/c9-7-6-8-4-2-1-3-5-8/h1-5H,6H2^Y Key: SUSQOBVLVYHIEX-UHFFFAOYSA-N^Y InChI=1/C8H7N/c9-7-6-8-4-2-1-3-5-8/h1-5H,6H2 Key: SUSQOBVLVYHIEX-UHFFFAOYAJ
SMILES N#CCc1ccccc1
Properties
Chemical formula	C₈H₇N
Molar mass	117.15 g/mol
Appearance	Colorless oily liquid
Density	1.015 g/cm³
Melting point	−24 °C (−11 °F; 249 K)
Boiling point	233 to 234 °C (451 to 453 °F; 506 to 507 K)
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	-76.87·10⁻⁶ cm³/mol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Y verify (what is ^YN ?) Infobox references

Chemical compound

Benzyl cyanide (abbreviated BnCN) is an organic compound with the chemical formula C₆H₅CH₂CN. This colorless oily aromatic liquid is an important precursor to numerous compounds in organic chemistry.^[2] It is also an important pheromone in certain species.^[3]

Preparation

Benzyl cyanide can be produced via Kolbe nitrile synthesis between benzyl chloride and sodium cyanide^[4] and by oxidative decarboxylation of phenylalanine.^[5]

Benzyl cyanides can also be prepared by arylation of silyl-substituted acetonitrile.^[6]

Reactions

Benzyl cyanide undergoes many reactions characteristic of nitriles. It can be hydrolyzed to give phenylacetic acid^[7] or it can be used in the Pinner reaction to yield phenylacetic acid esters.^[8] Hydrogenation gives β-phenethylamine.^[9]

The compound contains an "active methylene unit". Bromination occurs gives PhCHBrCN.^[10] A variety of base-induced reactions result in the formation of new carbon-carbon bonds.^[11]^[12]^[13]

Uses

Benzyl cyanide is used as a solvent^[14] and as a starting material in the synthesis of fungicides (.e.g. Fenapanil),^[15] fragrances (phenethyl alcohol), antibiotics,^[2] and other pharmaceuticals. The partial hydrolysis of BnCN results in 2-phenylacetamide.^[16]

Pharmaceuticals

Benzyl cyanide is a useful precursor to numerous pharmaceuticals. Examples include: ^[17]

Antiarrhythmics (e.g. disopyramide)^[17]
Antidepressants: E.g. Milnacipran & Lomevactone
Antihistamines (e.g. levocabastine (para-fluoro),^[17]^[18] Pheniramine & Azatadine.
Antitussives (e.g. isoaminile, oxeladin, butethamate, pentapiperide, and pentoxyverine)^[19]
Diuretics (e.g. triamterene)^[20]
Hypnotics (e.g. alonimid and phenobarbital)^[17]^[21] & Phenglutarimide
Spasmolytics (e.g. pentapiperide and drofenine)^[17]^[22]
Stimulants (e.g. methylphenidate)^[17]
Opioids (e.g. ethoheptazine, pethidine, and phenoperidine)^[17] & methadone

Regulation

Because benzyl cyanide is a useful precursor to numerous drugs with recreational use potential, many countries strictly regulate the compound.

United States

Benzyl cyanide is regulated in the United States as a DEA List I chemical.

China

Benzyl cyanide is regulated in People's Republic of China as a Class III drug precursor since 7 June 2021.^[23]

Safety

Benzyl cyanide, like related benzyl derivatives, is an irritant to the skin and eyes.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry : IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013 (Blue Book). Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry. 2014. p. 16. doi:10.1039/9781849733069-FP001. ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4.
^ ^a ^b ^c Pollak, Peter; Romeder, Gérard; Hagedorn, Ferdinand; Gelbke, Heinz-Peter (2000). "Nitriles". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a17_363. ISBN 3527306730.
^ https://www.mpg.de/20278575/0504-choe-chemisches-signal-schuetzt-wanderheuschrecken-vor-kannibalismus
^ Adams, Roger; Thal, A. F. (1922). "Benzyl cyanide". Organic Syntheses. 2: 9. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.002.0009.
^ Hiegel, Gene; Lewis, Justin; Bae, Jason (2004). "Conversion of α‐Amino Acids into Nitriles by Oxidative Decarboxylation with Trichloroisocyanuric Acid". Synthetic Communications. 34 (19): 3449–3453. doi:10.1081/SCC-200030958. S2CID 52208189.
^ Wu, Lingyun; Hartwig, John F. (2005). "Mild Palladium-Catalyzed Selective Monoarylation of Nitriles". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 127 (45): 15824–15832. doi:10.1021/ja053027x. PMID 16277525.
^ Adams, Roger; Thal, A. F. (1922). "Phenylacetic acid". Organic Syntheses. 2: 59. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.002.0059.
^ Adams, Roger; Thal, A. F. (1922). "Ethyl Phenylacetate". Organic Syntheses. 2: 27. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.002.0027.
^ Robinson, John C. Jr.; Snyder, H. R. (1943). "β-Phenylethylamine". Organic Syntheses. 23: 71. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.023.0071.
^ Robb, C. M.; Schultz, E. M. (1948). "Diphenylacetonitrile". Organic Syntheses. 28: 55. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.028.0055.
^ Makosza, M.; Jonczyk, A (1976). "Phase-Transfer Alkylation of Nitriles: 2-Phenylbutyronitrile". Organic Syntheses. 55: 91. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.055.0091.
^ Itoh, Masumi; Hagiwara, Daijiro; Kamiya, Takashi (1988). "New Reagent for tert-Butoxycarbonylation: 2-tert-Butoxycarbonyloxyimino-2-phenylacetonitrile". Organic Syntheses. 6: 199. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.059.0095.
^ Wawzonek, Stanley; Smolin, Edwin M. (1955). "α-Phenylcinnamonitrile". Organic Syntheses. 3: 715. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.029.0083.
^ Bien, Hans-Samuel; Stawitz, Josef; Wunderlich, Klaus (2000). "Anthraquinone Dyes and Intermediates". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry: 29. doi:10.1002/14356007.a02_355. ISBN 3527306730.
^ Ackermann, Peter; Margot, Paul; Müller, Franz (2000). "Fungicides, Agricultural". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a12_085. ISBN 3527306730.
^ "PHENYLACETAMIDE". Organic Syntheses. 32: 92. 1952. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.032.0092. ISSN 0078-6209.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g William Andrew Publishing (2008). Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). Norwich, NY: Elsevier Science. pp. 182, 936, 1362, 1369, 1505, 2036, 2157, 2259, 2554, 2620, 2660, 2670, 2924, 3032, & 3410. ISBN 9780815515265.
^ Berkoff, Charles E.; Rivard, Donald E.; Kirkpatrick, David; Ives, Jeffrey L. (1980). "The Reductive Decyanation of Nitriles by Alkali Fusion". Synthetic Communications. 10 (12): 939–945. doi:10.1080/00397918008061855.
^ Bub, Oskar; Friedrich, Ludwig (2000). "Cough Remedies". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a08_013. ISBN 3527306730.
^ Hropot, Max; Lang, Hans-Jochen (2000). "Diuretics". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a09_029. ISBN 3527306730.
^ Furniss, Brian; Hannaford, Antony; Smith, Peter & Tatchell, Austin (1996). Vogel's Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry 5th Ed. London: Longman Science & Technical. pp. 1174–1179. ISBN 9780582462366.
^ Bungardt, Edwin; Mutschler, Ernst (2000). "Spasmolytics". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a24_515. ISBN 3527306730.
^ "国务院办公厅关于同意将α-苯乙酰乙酸甲酯等6种物质列入易制毒化学品品种目录的函" (in Simplified Chinese). The State Council - The People's Republic of China. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.