Cyanoform

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Cyanoform
Cyanoform3d w CH.svg
Cyanoform Ball and Stick.png
Cyanoform Space Fill.png
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Methanetricarbonitrile
Other names
Tricyanomethane
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
PubChem CID
  • InChI=1S/C4HN3/c5-1-4(2-6)3-7/h4H
    Key: HFWIMJHBCIGYFH-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • InChI=1/C4HN3/c5-1-4(2-6)3-7/h4H
    Key: HFWIMJHBCIGYFH-UHFFFAOYAU
  • C(#N)C(C#N)C#N
Properties
HC(CN)3
Molar mass 91.073 g·mol−1
AppearanceColorless liquid
Boiling point −40 °C (−40 °F; 233 K) (decomposes)[ citation needed ]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Cyanoform (tricyanomethane) is an organic compound with the chemical formula HC(CN)3. It is a colorless liquid. It is a cyanocarbon and derivative of methane with three cyano groups. For many years, chemists have been unable to isolate this compound as a neat, free acid. However, in September 2015, reports surfaced of a successful isolation. [1]

Contents

Properties

Dilute solutions of this acid, as well as its salts, have long been well known. Cyanoform ranks as one of the most acidic of the carbon acids with an estimated pKa of -5.1 in water and measured pKa of 5.1 in acetonitrile. [2] The reaction of sulfuric acid with sodium tricyanomethanide in water (a reaction first tried by H. Schmidtmann in 1896 with inconclusive results [3] ) is reported to result in the formation of hydronium tricyanomethanide [H3O]+[C(CN)3] or the formation of (Z)-3-amino-2-cyano-3-hydroxyacrylamide, (H2N−)(HO−)C=C(−C≡N)(−C(=O)−NH2), depending on the precise conditions. [4] The reaction of HCl gas with sodium tricyanomethanide dissolved in THF is reported to yield 1-chloro-1-amino-2,2-dicyanoethylene ((N≡C−)2C=C(−NH2)Cl) and its tautomer.

Isolation

In September 2015 cyanoform was successfully isolated by a team of scientists at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. The team discovered that cyanoform was stable at temperatures below −40°C; previous beliefs were that cyanoform was stable at room temperature. The isolation confirmed that cyanoform is a colorless liquid. [5]

Related Research Articles

Cyanogen is the chemical compound with the formula (CN)2. The simplest stable carbon nitride, it is a colorless and highly toxic gas with a pungent odor. The molecule is a pseudohalogen. Cyanogen molecules consist of two CN groups ‒ analogous to diatomic halogen molecules, such as Cl2, but far less oxidizing. The two cyano groups are bonded together at their carbon atoms: N≡C‒C≡N, though other isomers have been detected. The name is also used for the CN radical, and hence is used for compounds such as cyanogen bromide (NCBr) (but see also Cyano radical). When burned at increased pressure with oxygen, it is possible to get a blue tinted flame, the temperature of which is about 4800°C (a higher temperature is possible with ozone). It is as such regarded as the gas with the second highest temperature of burning (after dicyanoacetylene).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyanohydrin</span> Functional group in organic chemistry

In organic chemistry, a cyanohydrin or hydroxynitrile is a functional group found in organic compounds in which a cyano and a hydroxy group are attached to the same carbon atom. The general formula is R2C(OH)CN, where R is H, alkyl, or aryl. Cyanohydrins are industrially important precursors to carboxylic acids and some amino acids. Cyanohydrins can be formed by the cyanohydrin reaction, which involves treating a ketone or an aldehyde with hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in the presence of excess amounts of sodium cyanide (NaCN) as a catalyst:

In organic chemistry, a nitrile is any organic compound that has a −C≡N functional group. The name of the compound is composed of a base, which includes the carbon of the −C≡N, suffixed with "nitrile", so for example CH3CH2C≡N is called "propionitrile". 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.

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

Lithium diisopropylamide is a chemical compound with the molecular formula LiN(CH 2)2. It is used as a strong base and has been widely utilized due to its good solubility in non-polar organic solvents and non-nucleophilic nature. It is a colorless solid, but is usually generated and observed only in solution. It was first prepared by Hamell and Levine in 1950 along with several other hindered lithium diorganylamides to effect the deprotonation of esters at the α position without attack of the carbonyl group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyanuric acid</span> Chemical compound belonging to the class of triazine

Cyanuric acid or 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triol is a chemical compound with the formula (CNOH)3. Like many industrially useful chemicals, this triazine has many synonyms. This white, odorless solid finds use as a precursor or a component of bleaches, disinfectants, and herbicides. In 1997, worldwide production was 160 000 tonnes.

In organic chemistry, hydrocyanation is a process for conversion of alkenes to nitriles. The reaction involves the addition of hydrogen cyanide and requires a catalyst. This conversion is conducted on an industrial scale for the production of precursors to nylon.

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

Sulfamic acid, also known as amidosulfonic acid, amidosulfuric acid, aminosulfonic acid, sulphamic acid and sulfamidic acid, is a molecular compound with the formula H3NSO3. This colourless, water-soluble compound finds many applications. Sulfamic acid melts at 205 °C before decomposing at higher temperatures to water, sulfur trioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diazonium compound</span> Group of organonitrogen compounds

Diazonium compounds or diazonium salts are a group of organic compounds sharing a common functional group [R−N+≡N]X where R can be any organic group, such as an alkyl or an aryl, and X is an inorganic or organic anion, such as a halide. The parent compound where R is hydrogen, is diazenylium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copper(I) cyanide</span> Chemical compound

Copper(I) cyanide is an inorganic compound with the formula CuCN. This off-white solid occurs in two polymorphs; impure samples can be green due to the presence of Cu(II) impurities. The compound is useful as a catalyst, in electroplating copper, and as a reagent in the preparation of nitriles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Persistent carbene</span> Type of carbene demonstrating particular stability

A persistent carbene is an organic molecule whose natural resonance structure has a carbon atom with incomplete octet, but does not exhibit the tremendous instability typically associated with such moieties. The best-known examples and by far largest subgroup are the N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC), in which nitrogen atoms flank the formal carbene.

Carbamic acid, which might also be called aminoformic acid or aminocarboxylic acid, is the chemical compound with the formula H2NCOOH. It can be obtained by the reaction of ammonia NH3 and carbon dioxide CO2 at very low temperatures, which also yields ammonium carbamate [NH4]+[NH2CO2]. The compound is stable only up to about 250 K (−23 °C); at higher temperatures it decomposes into those two gases. The solid apparently consists of dimers, with the two molecules connected by hydrogen bonds between the two carboxyl groups –COOH.

The Bucherer–Bergs reaction is the chemical reaction of carbonyl compounds or cyanohydrins with ammonium carbonate and potassium cyanide to give hydantoins. The reaction is named after Hans Theodor Bucherer.

The Chichibabin reaction is a method for producing 2-aminopyridine derivatives by the reaction of pyridine with sodium amide. It was reported by Aleksei Chichibabin in 1914. The following is the overall form of the general reaction:

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

Sodium nitride is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula Na3N. In contrast to lithium nitride and some other nitrides, sodium nitride is an extremely unstable alkali metal nitride. It can be generated by combining atomic beams of sodium and nitrogen deposited onto a low-temperature sapphire substrate. It readily decomposes into its elements:

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

Methyltrichlorosilane, also known as trichloromethylsilane, is a monomer and organosilicon compound with the formula CH3SiCl3. It is a colorless liquid with a sharp odor similar to that of hydrochloric acid. As methyltrichlorosilane is a reactive compound, it is mainly used a precursor for forming various cross-linked siloxane polymers.

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

Tetramethylurea is the organic compound with the formula (Me2N)2CO. It is a substituted urea. This colorless liquid is used as an aprotic-polar solvent, especially for aromatic compounds and is used e. g. for Grignard reagents.

<i>N</i>-Hydroxyphthalimide Chemical compound

N-Hydroxyphthalimide is the organic compound with the formula C6H4(CO)2NOH. A white or yellow solid, it is a derivative of phthalimide. The compound is as a catalyst in the synthesis of other organic compounds. It is soluble in water and organic solvents such as acetic acid, ethyl acetate and acetonitrile.

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

Ethyl cyanohydroxyiminoacetate (oxyma) is the oxime of ethyl cyanoacetate and finds use as an additive for carbodiimides, such as dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) in peptide synthesis. It acts as a neutralizing reagent for the basicity or nucleophilicity of the DCC due to its pronounced acidity and suppresses base catalyzed side reactions, in particular racemization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2,2',2''-Nitrilotriacetonitrile</span> Chemical compound

Nitrilotriacetonitrile (NTAN) is a precursor for nitrilotriacetic acid, for tris(2-aminoethyl)amine and for the epoxy resin crosslinker aminoethylpiperazine.

1,4-butane sultone is a six-membered δ-sultone and the cyclic ester of 4-hydroxybutanesulfonic acid. As a sulfo-alkylating agent, 1,4-butanesultone is used to introduce the sulfobutyl group (–(CH2)4–SO3) into hydrophobic compounds possessing nucleophilic functional groups, for example hydroxy groups (as in the case of β-cyclodextrin) or amino groups (as in the case of polymethine dyes). In such, the sulfobutyl group is present as neutral sodium salt and considerably increases the water solubility of the derivatives.

References

  1. Soltner, T.; Häusler J.; Kornath A.J. "The Existence of Tricyanomethane" Angewandte Chemie International Edition2015. doi : 10.1002/anie.201506753
  2. Raamat, E.; Kaupmees, K.; Ovsjannikov, G.; Trummal, A.; Kütt, A.; Saame, J.; Koppel, I.; Kaljurand, I.; Lipping, L.; Rodima, T.; Pihl, V.; Koppel, I. A.; Leito, I. (2013). "Acidities of strong neutral Brønsted acids in different media". J. Phys. Org. Chem. 26 (2): 162–170. doi:10.1002/poc.2946.
  3. Schmidtmann, H. (1896). "Ueber einige Derivate des Malonitrils" (PDF). Berichte der deutschen chemischen Gesellschaft. 29 (2): 1168–1175. doi:10.1002/cber.18960290204.
  4. Šišak, Dubravka; McCusker, Lynne B.; Buckl, Andrea; Wuitschik, Georg; Wu, Yi-Lin; Schweizer, W. Bernd; Dunitz, Jack D. (2010). "The Search for Tricyanomethane (Cyanoform)". Chemistry: A European Journal. 16 (24): 7224–30. doi: 10.1002/chem.201000559 . PMID   20480465.
  5. Mole, B - Elusive acid finally created https://www.sciencenews.org/article/elusive-acid-finally-created