1597. Butyronitrile

Nomenclature

CAS number: 109-74-0
Butanenitrile; propyl cyanide; butyric acid nitrile.
C4H7N; mol wt 69.11.
C 69.52%, H 10.21%, N 20.27%.

Description and references

Prepd from 1-butanol by controlled cyanation with NH3 at 300° in the presence of Ni‐Al2O3 catalysts: Popov, Shuikin, Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR Otd. Khim. Nauk 1958, 713-718, C.A. 52, 19924 (1958). Toxicity: H. F. Smyth et al., Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 23, 95 (1962).

Chemical structure

Properties

Liquid. d40 0.8091; d415 0.7954; d430 0.7817. mp -112°. bp760 117.5°; bp400 96.8°; bp200 76.7°; bp100 59.0°; bp60 47.3°; bp40 38.4°; bp20 25.7°; bp10 13.4°; bp5 2.1°; bp1.0 -20.0°. nD20 1.38385. Flash pt, open cup: 85°F (29°C). Viscosity (η × 105) at 15° = 624; at 30° = 515. Dipole moment 3.5. Flammable, poisonous. Sparingly sol in water. Misc with alcohol, ether, dimethylformamide. LD50 orally in rats: 0.14 g/kg (Smyth).

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure are irritation of eyes, skin, respiratory system; headache, dizziness, weakness, giddiness, confusion, convulsions; dyspnea; abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 44.