|  | |||
|  | |||
| Names | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IUPAC name Malononitrile[1] | |||
| Preferred IUPAC name Propanedinitrile[1] | |||
| Other names Malonodinitrile, Cyanoacetonitrile, Dicyanomethane, Malonic dinitrile[2] | |||
| Identifiers | |||
| 3D model (JSmol) | |||
| 773697 | |||
| ChEBI | |||
| ChemSpider | |||
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.003.368 | ||
| EC Number | 
 | ||
| 1303 | |||
| MeSH | dicyanmethane | ||
| PubChem CID | |||
| RTECS number | 
 | ||
| UNII | |||
| UN number | 2647 | ||
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |||
| 
 | |||
| 
 | |||
| Properties | |||
| CH2(CN)2 | |||
| Molar mass | 66.063 g·mol−1 | ||
| Appearance | Colourless or white solid[2] | ||
| Density | 1.049 g cm−3 | ||
| Melting point | 32 °C; 89 °F; 305 K | ||
| Boiling point | 220.1 °C; 428.1 °F; 493.2 K | ||
| 13% (20 °C)[2] | |||
| Thermochemistry | |||
| Heat capacity (C) | 110.29 J K−1 mol−1 | ||
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 130.96 J K−1 mol−1 | ||
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | 187.7 to 188.1 kJ mol−1 | ||
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | −1,654.0 to −1,654.4 kJ mol−1 | ||
| Hazards | |||
| GHS labelling: | |||
|    | |||
| Danger | |||
| H301, H311, H331, H410 | |||
| P261, P273, P280, P301+P310, P311 | |||
| Flash point | 86 °C (187 °F; 359 K) | ||
| Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |||
| LD50 (median dose) | 
 | ||
| NIOSH (US health exposure limits): | |||
| PEL (Permissible) | none[2] | ||
| REL (Recommended) | TWA 3 ppm (8 mg/m3)[2] | ||
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | N.D.[2] | ||
| Related compounds | |||
| Related alkanenitriles | |||
| Related compounds | DBNPA | ||
| Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references | |||
Malononitrile is an organic compound nitrile with the formula CH2(CN)2. It is a colorless or white solid, although aged samples appear yellow or even brown. It is a widely used building block in organic synthesis.
Preparation and reactions
It can be prepared by dehydration of cyanoacetamide.[3] This method is mainly practiced in China where environmental rules are lax. Most commonly malononitrile is produced by the gas-phase reaction of acetonitrile and cyanogen chloride:[4]
- NCCl + CH3CN → NCCH2CN + HCl
About 20,000,000 kg are produced annually (2007). Important outlets include the synthesis of thiamine, the drug triamterene and minoxidil, and the dyes disperse Yellow 90 and disperse Blue 354.[4]
Malononitrile is relatively acidic, with a pKa of 11 in water.[5] This allows it to be used in the Knoevenagel condensation, for example in the preparation of CS gas:

Malononitrile is a suitable starting material for the Gewald reaction, where the nitrile condenses with a ketone or aldehyde in the presence of elemental sulfur and a base to produce a 2-aminothiophene.[6]
See also
References
- 1 2 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (2014). Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry: IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013. The Royal Society of Chemistry. p. 902. doi:10.1039/9781849733069. ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0378". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
- ↑ Surrey, Alexander (1945). "Malononitrile". Organic Syntheses. 25: 63–64. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.025.0063.
- 1 2 Strittmatter, Harald; Hildbrand, Stefan; Pollak, Peter (2007). "Malonic Acid and Derivatives". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a16_063.pub2. ISBN 978-3527306732.
- ↑ Evans pKa table
- ↑ Sabnis, R. W.; Rangnekar, D. W.; Sonawane, N. D. (1999). "2-Aminothiophenes By The Gewald Reaction". Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry. 36 (2): 333–345. doi:10.1002/jhet.5570360203. Retrieved 2007-07-18.



