Malononitrile

The weak cyanocarbon malononitrile [CH₂(CN)₂] is a colourless solid with a melting range of 32-34 °C and a boiling range of 218-219 °C. It is a versatile compound of exceptional reactivity. Malononitrile can be prepared in 80-96% yield by the reaction of cyanoacetamide and POCl₃ or PCl₅ in presence of inorganic salts. [1-2] Due to the presence of active methylene protons, the reagent is found to be more useful in carbon-carbon bond formation reactions. It is used extensively [3] as a reactant or reaction intermediate, since the methylene group and one or both cyano groups can take part in condensation reactions to give a variety of addition products and heterocyclic compounds. This unique reactivity makes malononitrile an important chemical in research and in medical, industrial and agricultural chemistry applications.

References

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