Butyronitrile or butanenitrile or propyl cyanide, is a nitrile with the formula C3H7CN. This colorless liquid is miscible with most polar organic solvents.
Uses Butyronitrile is mainly used as a precursor to the poultry drug amprolium.Peter Pollak, Gérard Romeder, Ferdinand Hagedorn, Heinz-Peter Gelbke "Nitriles" Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2002, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim.
It also has recognized use in the synthesis of Etifelmine.
Synthesis Butyronitrile is prepared industrially by the ammoxidation of n-butanol: C3H7CH2OH + NH3 + O2 → C3H7CN + 3 H2O
Occurrence in space Butyronitrile has been detected in the Large Molecule Heimat in Sagittarius B2 cloud along with other complex organic molecules.
References
External links NIST Chemistry WebBook page for C4H7N CDC - NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards