Lactonitrile Chemical Properties

Melting point:

-40.15°C

Boiling point:

90 °C17 mm Hg(lit.)

Density 

0.991 g/mL at 20 °C(lit.)

vapor pressure 

15.9Pa at 25℃

refractive index 

n20/D 1.404

Flash point:

77 °C

storage temp. 

Refrigerator, under inert atmosphere

solubility 

DMSO (Slightly), Methanol (Slightly)

form 

Oil

pka

11.38±0.20(Predicted)

color 

Colourless

BRN 

605366

LogP

-0.32 at 25℃

CAS DataBase Reference

78-97-7(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

Propanenitrile, 2-hydroxy-(78-97-7)

EPA Substance Registry System

Lactonitrile (78-97-7)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

T+,T

Risk Statements 

23/25-27-25-20

Safety Statements 

13-36/37/39-45-23-36/37-28

RIDADR 

UN 3276 6.1/PG 1

WGK Germany 

3

RTECS 

OD8225000

HazardClass 

6.1(a)

PackingGroup 

II

Hazardous Substances Data

78-97-7(Hazardous Substances Data)

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:Lactonitrile
• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich

Lactonitrile Usage And Synthesis

Chemical Properties

Lactonitrile, is soluble in water and alcohol, but insoluble in diethyl ether and carbon disulfide. Lactonitrile is used chiefly to manufacture lactic acid and its derivatives, primarily ethyl lactate.

Uses

It is used primarily as a solvent, and as an intermediate in production of ethyl acetate and lactic acid.

Uses

2-Hydroxypropanenitrile is a useful compound for efficient lactamide synthesis by fed batch method using nitrile hydratase of Rhodococcus pyridinivorans NIT-36.

Production Methods

Lactonitrile is derived from acetaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid.

Production Methods

Lactonitrile is manufactured from equimolar amounts of acetaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide containing 1.5% of 20% NaOH at ?10–20 °C. The product is stabilized with sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid hydrolyzes the nitrile to give a mixture of lactic acid and ammonium bisulfate. This mixture can be purified by adding methanol to form methyl lactate which is separated from the ammonium bisulfate. The methyl lactate is distilled, then hydrolyzed back to the aqueous acid. Removal of most of the water yields 90% lactic acid.

General Description

Straw colored liquid. Used as a solvent /intermediate in production of ethyl lactate and lactic acid.

Air & Water Reactions

Water soluble.

Reactivity Profile

Lactonitrile is incompatible with strong acids, strong bases and strong reducing agents. Lactonitrile is also incompatible with strong oxidizers. In the presence of alkali, Lactonitrile evolves toxic compounds. .

Health Hazard

Extremely toxic by oral, skin, or eye contact.

Fire Hazard

Cyanide fumes released when heated to decomposition. Avoid alkali, oxidizing material.

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