p-Tolunitrile Property

Melting point:

26-28 °C(lit.)

Boiling point:

103-106 °C20 mm Hg(lit.)

Density 

0.981 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.)

refractive index 

1.5285-1.5305

Flash point:

185 °F

storage temp. 

Store below +30°C.

solubility 

alcohol: very soluble

form 

Viscous Liquid

Specific Gravity

0.981

color 

Clear

Water Solubility 

<0.1 g/100 mL at 17 ºC

Merck 

14,9538

BRN 

507386

Exposure limits

NIOSH: IDLH 25 mg/m3

Stability:

Stable. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, strong bases.

InChIKey

VCZNNAKNUVJVGX-UHFFFAOYSA-N

CAS DataBase Reference

104-85-8(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

Benzonitrile, 4-methyl-(104-85-8)

EPA Substance Registry System

p-Tolunitrile (104-85-8)

Safety

Hazard Codes 

Xi

Risk Statements 

36/37/38-43-36/38

Safety Statements 

26-36/37-37-36

WGK Germany 

2

RTECS 

XV0700000

Hazard Note 

Irritant

TSCA 

Yes

HS Code 

29269095

Hazard and Precautionary Statements (GHS)

Symbol(GHS)

Signal word

Danger

Hazard statements

H315Causes skin irritation

H319Causes serious eye irritation

H334May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled

H335May cause respiratory irritation

Precautionary statements

P261Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.

P264Wash hands thoroughly after handling.

P264Wash skin thouroughly after handling.

P271Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.

P302+P352IF ON SKIN: wash with plenty of soap and water.

P305+P351+P338IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continuerinsing.

p-Tolunitrile Chemical Properties,Usage,Production

Chemical Properties

This substance is a clear colorless liquid or beige solid that exhibits toxicity and flammability. It should avoid contact with the skin.

Uses

p-Tolunitrile is a reagent used in the preparation of 1H-Indazoles from imidates and nitrosobenzenes.

Synthesis Reference(s)

Synthetic Communications, 15, p. 1299, 1985 DOI: 10.1080/00397918508077278
Tetrahedron Letters, 27, p. 1925, 1986 DOI: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)84413-5

General Description

Beige solid at 62.6° F.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Nitriles, such as p-Tolunitrile, may polymerize in the presence of metals and some metal compounds. They are incompatible with acids; mixing nitriles with strong oxidizing acids can lead to extremely violent reactions. Nitriles are generally incompatible with other oxidizing agents such as peroxides and epoxides. The combination of bases and nitriles can produce hydrogen cyanide. Nitriles are hydrolyzed in both aqueous acid and base to give carboxylic acids (or salts of carboxylic acids). These reactions generate heat. Peroxides convert nitriles to amides. Nitriles can react vigorously with reducing agents. Acetonitrile and propionitrile are soluble in water, but nitriles higher than propionitrile have low aqueous solubility. They are also insoluble in aqueous acids.

Fire Hazard

p-Tolunitrile is combustible.

Purification Methods

Melt the nitrile, dry it with MgSO4, fractionally crystallise it from its melt, then fractionally distil it under reduced pressure in a 6-in spinning band column. [Brown J Am Chem Soc 81 3232 1959.] It can also be crystallised from *benzene/pet ether (b 40-60o). [Beilstein 9 H 489, 9 I 194, 9 II 330, 9 III 2348, 9 IV 1738.]