Isobutyronitrile

May 17, 2021
I made news when I was found in outer space.
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Image of Isobutyronitrile 3D Image of Isobutyronitrile

Isobutyronitrile, often called isopropyl cyanide, is a highly toxic liquid with the aroma of almonds. An early synthesis of the compound from isobutyl alcohol and ammonia was reported by Tohoru Hara and Shigeru Komatsu at Kyoto Imperial University in 1925. Today, isobutyronitrile is generally made by passing isobutyl alcohol or isobutyraldehyde and ammonia over a suitable catalyst at high temperatures.

Isobutyronitrile has only a few uses. It is an industrial solvent and a starting material for producing insecticides such as diazinon. Recently, several patents mention isobutyronitrile as a cosolvent in battery electrolytes.

Despite its relative obscurity, isobutyronitrile made big news in 2014, when astronomers . Hundreds of other molecules have been found in space, but isobutyronitrile was unique in that its carbon chain is branched, as opposed to linear. Using the then-new Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array telescope in Chile, Arnaud Belloche and colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (Bonn, Germany) found the molecule in a massive star-forming region called Sagittarius B2.

This finding was especially significant because it may be a clue that branched-chain amino acids are also present in star-forming regions.


Isobutyronitrile hazard information*

Hazard class**Hazard statement
Flammable liquids, category 2H225鈥擧ighly flammable liquid and vaporChemical Safety Warning
Acute toxicity, oral, category 2H300鈥擣atal if swallowed聽Chemical Safety Warning
Acute toxicity, dermal, category 3H311鈥擳oxic in contact with skinChemical Safety Warning
Skin corrosion/irritation, category 2H315鈥擟auses skin irritationChemical Safety Warning
Serious eye damage/eye irritation, category 2AH319鈥擟auses serious eye irritationChemical Safety Warning
Acute toxicity, inhalation, category 3H331鈥擳oxic if inhaledChemical Safety Warning
Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure, respiratory tract irritation, category 3H335鈥擬ay cause respiratory irritationChemical Safety Warning
Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure, liver, category 2H371鈥擬ay cause damage to liverChemical Safety Warning

*Compilation of multiple safety data sheets.
**Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.聽聽

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fast facts

CAS Reg. No.78-82-0

nomenclature
Propanenitrile, 2-methyl-
Empirical formulaC4H7N
Molar mass69.11 g/mol
AppearanceColorless liquid
Boiling point103.9 潞C
Water solubility鈮�3 g/L (est)

MOTW update

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