Acetonitrile is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH₃CN or C₂H₃N, and its CAS number is 75-05-8.
Chemical Properties:
Physical properties: It is a colorless liquid with an irritating odor. Its molecular weight is 41.05, the melting point is -45.7°C, the boiling point is 81-82°C, the relative density is 0.79 (with water as 1), and it is volatile with a similar fragrance to ether.
Solubility: It is miscible with most organic solvents such as water and alcohols.
Stability: It is not easily oxidized or reduced, but the carbon-nitrogen triple bond is prone to addition reactions, such as reactions with hydrogen halides, hydrogen sulfide, alcohols, acids, or acid anhydrides.
Hydrolysis reaction: It undergoes hydrolysis in the presence of acids or bases to form amides, which further hydrolyze into acids.
Reduction reaction: It can be reduced to form ethylamine.
Reaction with metals: It can react with sodium metal, sodium alkoxide, or sodium amide.
Uses:
Solvent: Due to its excellent solvent properties, acetonitrile can dissolve various organic, inorganic, and gaseous substances and is widely used as a solvent.
Pharmaceutical industry: It is used in the synthesis of vitamins A, cortisone, carbonamide drugs and their intermediates, as well as active medium solvents for vitamin B₁ and amino acids.
Chemical analysis: It is used as an organic modifier and solvent in thin-layer chromatography, paper chromatography, spectroscopy, and polarography.
Hydrocarbon extraction and separation: It is used as a solvent in extractive distillation methods to separate butadiene from C₄ hydrocarbons, etc.
Synthesis intermediates: It is used to synthesize intermediates of various medicines and pesticides, such as vitamin B₁, metronidazole, etc.
Semiconductor cleaning agent: Due to its solubility in oils, inorganic salts, organic compounds, and high molecular weight compounds, it is used as a semiconductor cleaning agent.
Organic synthesis raw material: It is used as a component of catalysts or transition metal complex catalysts, as well as in the application of fabric dyeing and coating compounding.
Stabilizer: It is an effective stabilizer for chlorinated solvents.
Acetonitrile, due to its diverse chemical properties and wide range of uses, plays an important role in the industrial and scientific research fields. It should be noted that acetonitrile is flammable, and its vapor can form an explosive mixture with the air. In the event of open flames, high temperatures, or contact with oxidants, there is a risk of causing combustion and explosion. Therefore, strict safety operating procedures must be followed when using and storing acetonitrile.