Benzonitrile

Last updated
Benzonitrile
Skeletal formula Benzonitrile structure.svg
Skeletal formula
Ball-and-stick model Benzonitrile-3D-balls.png
Ball-and-stick model
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Benzonitrile
Systematic IUPAC name
Benzenecarbonitrile
Other names
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
3DMet
506893
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.002.596 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
EC Number
  • 202-855-7
2653
KEGG
PubChem CID
RTECS number
  • DI2450000
UNII
UN number 2224
  • InChI=1S/C7H5N/c8-6-7-4-2-1-3-5-7/h1-5H Yes check.svgY
    Key: JFDZBHWFFUWGJE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Yes check.svgY
  • InChI=1/C7H5N/c8-6-7-4-2-1-3-5-7/h1-5H
    Key: JFDZBHWFFUWGJE-UHFFFAOYAY
  • N#Cc1ccccc1
Properties
C6H5(CN)
Molar mass 103.12 g/mol
Density 1.0 g/ml
Melting point −13 °C (9 °F; 260 K)
Boiling point 188 to 191 °C (370 to 376 °F; 461 to 464 K)
<0.5 g/100 ml (22 °C)
-65.19·10−6 cm3/mol
1.5280
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS-pictogram-exclam.svg
Warning
H302, H312
P264, P270, P280, P301+P312, P302+P352, P312, P322, P330, P363, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
3
2
0
Flash point 75 °C (167 °F; 348 K)
550 °C (1,022 °F; 823 K)
Explosive limits 1.47.2%
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Yes check.svgY  verify  (what is  Yes check.svgYX mark.svgN ?)

Benzonitrile is the chemical compound with the formula C6H5(CN), abbreviated PhCN. This aromatic organic compound is a colorless liquid with a sweet bitter almond odour. It is mainly used as a precursor to the resin benzoguanamine.

Contents

Production

It is prepared by ammoxidation of toluene, that is its reaction with ammonia and oxygen (or air) at 400 to 450 °C (752 to 842 °F). [1]

C6H5CH3 + 3/2 O2 + NH3C6H5(CN) + 3 H2O

In the laboratory it can be prepared by the dehydration of benzamide or benzaldehyde oxime [2] or by the Rosenmund–von Braun reaction using cuprous cyanide or NaCN/DMSO and bromobenzene.

Rosenmund-von Braun synthesis.svg

Applications

Laboratory uses

Benzonitrile is a useful solvent and a versatile precursor to many derivatives. It reacts with amines to afford N-substituted benzamides after hydrolysis. [3] It is a precursor to diphenylketimine Ph2C=NH (b.p. 151 °C, 8 mm Hg) via reaction with phenylmagnesium bromide followed by methanolysis. [4]

Benzonitrile forms coordination complexes with transition metals that are both soluble in organic solvents and conveniently labile. One example is PdCl2(PhCN)2. The benzonitrile ligands are readily displaced by stronger ligands, making benzonitrile complexes useful synthetic intermediates. [5]

History

Benzonitrile was reported by Hermann Fehling in 1844. He found the compound as a product from the thermal dehydration of ammonium benzoate. He deduced its structure from the already known analogue reaction of ammonium formate yielding hydrogen cyanide (formonitrile). He also coined the name benzonitrile which gave the name to all the group of nitriles. [6]

In 2018, benzonitrile was reported to be detected in the interstellar medium. [7]

Related Research Articles

In chemistry, amines are compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are formally derivatives of ammonia, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent such as an alkyl or aryl group. Important amines include amino acids, biogenic amines, trimethylamine, and aniline. Inorganic derivatives of ammonia are also called amines, such as monochloramine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxime</span> Organic compounds of the form >C=N–OH

In organic chemistry, an oxime is a organic compound belonging to the imines, with the general formula RR’C=N−OH, where R is an organic side-chain and R' may be hydrogen, forming an aldoxime, or another organic group, forming a ketoxime. O-substituted oximes form a closely related family of compounds. Amidoximes are oximes of amides with general structure R1C(=NOH)NR2R3.

Mesitylene or 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene is a derivative of benzene with three methyl substituents positioned symmetrically around the ring. The other two isomeric trimethylbenzenes are 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene (pseudocumene) and 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene (hemimellitene). All three compounds have the formula C6H3(CH3)3, which is commonly abbreviated C6H3Me3. Mesitylene is a colorless liquid with sweet aromatic odor. It is a component of coal tar, which is its traditional source. It is a precursor to diverse fine chemicals. The mesityl group (Mes) is a substituent with the formula C6H2Me3 and is found in various other compounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imine</span> Organic compound or functional group containing a C=N bond

In organic chemistry, an imine is a functional group or organic compound containing a carbon–nitrogen double bond. The nitrogen atom can be attached to a hydrogen or an organic group (R). The carbon atom has two additional single bonds. Imines are common in synthetic and naturally occurring compounds and they participate in many reactions.

In organic chemistry, a nitrile is any organic compound that has a −C≡N functional group. The prefix cyano- is used interchangeably with the term nitrile in industrial literature. Nitriles are found in many useful compounds, including methyl cyanoacrylate, used in super glue, and nitrile rubber, a nitrile-containing polymer used in latex-free laboratory and medical gloves. Nitrile rubber is also widely used as automotive and other seals since it is resistant to fuels and oils. Organic compounds containing multiple nitrile groups are known as cyanocarbons.

The Heck reaction is the chemical reaction of an unsaturated halide with an alkene in the presence of a base and a palladium catalyst to form a substituted alkene. It is named after Tsutomu Mizoroki and Richard F. Heck. Heck was awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, which he shared with Ei-ichi Negishi and Akira Suzuki, for the discovery and development of this reaction. This reaction was the first example of a carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction that followed a Pd(0)/Pd(II) catalytic cycle, the same catalytic cycle that is seen in other Pd(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. The Heck reaction is a way to substitute alkenes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triphenylphosphine</span> Chemical compound

Triphenylphosphine (IUPAC name: triphenylphosphane) is a common organophosphorus compound with the formula P(C6H5)3 and often abbreviated to PPh3 or Ph3P. It is widely used in the synthesis of organic and organometallic compounds. PPh3 exists as relatively air stable, colorless crystals at room temperature. It dissolves in non-polar organic solvents such as benzene and diethyl ether.

A cyanohydrin reaction is an organic chemical reaction in which an aldehyde or ketone reacts with a cyanide anion or a nitrile to form a cyanohydrin. This nucleophilic addition is a reversible reaction but with aliphatic carbonyl compounds equilibrium is in favor of the reaction products. The cyanide source can be potassium cyanide, sodium cyanide or trimethylsilyl cyanide. With aromatic aldehydes such as benzaldehyde, the benzoin condensation is a competing reaction. The reaction is used in carbohydrate chemistry as a chain extension method for example that of D-xylose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyanuric chloride</span> Chemical compound

Cyanuric chloride is an organic compound with the formula (NCCl)3. This white solid is the chlorinated derivative of 1,3,5-triazine. It is the trimer of cyanogen chloride. Cyanuric chloride is the main precursor to the popular but controversial herbicide atrazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zinc cyanide</span> Chemical compound

Zinc cyanide is the inorganic compound with the formula Zn(CN)2. It is a white solid that is used mainly for electroplating zinc but also has more specialized applications for the synthesis of organic compounds.

The Letts nitrile synthesis is a chemical reaction of aromatic carboxylic acids with metal thiocyanates to form nitriles. The reaction includes the loss of carbon dioxide and potassium hydrosulfide. The polar basic substitution reaction was discovered in 1872 by Edmund A. Letts.

The Étard reaction is a chemical reaction that involves the direct oxidation of an aromatic or heterocyclic bound methyl group to an aldehyde using chromyl chloride. For example, toluene can be oxidized to benzaldehyde.

The reduction of nitro compounds are chemical reactions of wide interest in organic chemistry. The conversion can be effected by many reagents. The nitro group was one of the first functional groups to be reduced. Alkyl and aryl nitro compounds behave differently. Most useful is the reduction of aryl nitro compounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diethylaluminium cyanide</span> Chemical compound

Diethylaluminum cyanide ("Nagata's reagent") is the organoaluminum compound with formula ((C2H5)2AlCN)n. This colorless compound is usually handled as a solution in toluene. It is a reagent for the hydrocyanation of α,β-unsaturated ketones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benzyl cyanide</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodium tetraphenylborate</span> Chemical compound

Sodium tetraphenylborate is the organic compound with the formula NaB(C6H5)4. It is a salt, wherein the anion consists of four phenyl rings bonded to boron. This white crystalline solid is used to prepare other tetraphenylborate salts, which are often highly soluble in organic solvents. The compound is used in inorganic and organometallic chemistry as a precipitating agent for potassium, ammonium, rubidium, and cesium ions, and some organic nitrogen compounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metal halides</span>

Metal halides are compounds between metals and halogens. Some, such as sodium chloride are ionic, while others are covalently bonded. A few metal halides are discrete molecules, such as uranium hexafluoride, but most adopt polymeric structures, such as palladium chloride.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benzophenone imine</span> Chemical compound

Benzophenone imine is an organic compound with the formula of (C6H5)2C=NH. A pale yellow liquid, benzophenone imine is used as a reagent in organic synthesis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bis(benzonitrile)palladium dichloride</span> Chemical compound

Bis(benzonitrile)palladium dichloride is the coordination complex with the formula PdCl2(NCC6H5)2. It is the adduct of two benzonitrile (PhCN) ligands with palladium(II) chloride. It is a yellow-brown solid that is soluble in organic solvents. The compound is a reagent and a precatalyst for reactions that require soluble Pd(II). A closely related compound is bis(acetonitrile)palladium dichloride.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benzaldehyde oxime</span> Chemical compound

Benzaldehyde oxime is an organic compound with the formula C7H7NO. Benzaldehyde oxime can be synthesized from benzaldehyde and hydroxylamine hydrochloride in presence of a base. The reaction at room temperature in methanol gives 9% E-isomer and 82% Z-isomer.

References

  1. Maki, Takao; Takeda, Kazuo (June 2000). "Benzoic Acid and Derivatives". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a03_555. ISBN   3527306730.
  2. Loupy, André; Régnier, Serge (August 1999). "Solvent-free microwave-assisted Beckmann rearrangement of benzaldehyde and 2-hydroxyacetophenone oximes". Tetrahedron Letters. 40 (34): 6221–6224. doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)01159-4. ISSN   0040-4039.
  3. Cooper, F. C.; Partridge, M. W. (1963). "N-Phenylbenzamidine". Organic Syntheses .; Collective Volume, vol. 4, p. 769
  4. Pickard, P. L.; Tolbert, T. L. (1973). "Diphenyl Ketimine". Organic Syntheses .; Collective Volume, vol. 5, p. 520
  5. Anderson, Gordon K.; Lin, Minren (1990). "Bis(Benzonitrile)Dichloro Complexes of Palladium and Platinum". Reagents for Transition Metal Complex and Organometallic Syntheses. Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. 28. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 60–63. doi:10.1002/9780470132593.ch13. ISBN   978-0-470-13259-3.
  6. Fehling, Hermann (1844). "Ueber die Zersetzung des benzoësauren Ammoniaks durch die Wärme". Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie . 49 (1): 91–97. doi:10.1002/jlac.18440490106.
  7. McGuire, Brett A.; et al. (January 2018). "Detection of the aromatic molecule benzonitrile (c\sC6H5CN) in the interstellar medium". Science . 359 (6372): 202–205. arXiv: 1801.04228 . Bibcode:2018Sci...359..202M. doi:10.1126/science.aao4890. PMID   29326270. S2CID   206663501.