INTRODUCTION
Acetonitrile (ACN) is a highly polar, volatile, colorless liquid with ethereal odor and is the simplest organic nitrile widely used as a solvent.
The nitrile group constitutes active part of the molecule. It participates in various reactions that lead to number of nitrogen containing organic molecules.
Manufacture
ACN is manufactured on large scale by addition of ammonia in propylene, acrylonitrile being the by-product.
| Synonyms | Methyl Cyanide Cyanomethane |
| CAS no. | 75-05-8 |
| EINECS no. | 200-835-2 |
| Molecular formula | C2H3N |
| Molecular weight | 41.05 |
| Structure |  |
Industrial Applications
ACN has excellent solubilizing properties. These enable its use as a useful solvent in synthesis and purification processes of distillation and recrystallization.
Commonly occurring uses as solvent are in:
| High pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis as an eluent. |
| Butadiene extraction in Petro refineries. |
| Manufacture of insulin, vitamins, amino acids and photographic films. |
| Lithium batteries. |
| Non-aqueous reactions that employ AlCl3 and PCl3. |
| Manufacture of flame retardants. |
| Extraction of fatty acids from vegetable oil. |
| Chemical intermediate and solvent for perfumes. |
| Catalyst and component of transition-metal complex catalysts. |
| Solvent for DNA synthesis and Peptide sequencing. |
| Solvent for spinning synthetic fibers. |
| Casting and moulding plastics. |
Intermediates
The nitrile group being reactive, ACN acts as a key raw material in production of:
| Acetamidine hydrochloride |
| Acetoguanamine |
| β-Aminocrotononitrile |
| 2,4-Dihydroxy acetophenone |
| 2,6-Dihydroxy acetophenone |
| Geranonitrile |
| Malononitrile |
| Triethyl orthoacetate |
| Sulphapyrimidines |
| O,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide |
Applications in APIs
As a key raw material in the early manufacturing stages of:
| Sulfisomidine | Antibacterial |
| Pyritinol | Nootropic |
| Cromolyn | Antiasthma / Antiallergic |
| Alprazolam | Anxiolytic |
| Diazoxide | Antihypertensive / Hyperglycemia |
| Triazolam | Hypnotic |
As an essential raw material in the ultimate synthesis step of:
| Amantadine | Antiviral / Antiparkinsonian |
| Sulphaphenazole | Antibacterial |
Agrochemicals
| Isoxaben | Herbicide |
SPECIFICATIONS
| Test | Unit | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | – | Clear colorless liquid, free from extraneous matter. |
| Identification (By GC) | – | Retention time of the main peak in the test sample chromatogram should match with that of the standard. |
| Purity (By GC) | % | Min 99.0 |
| Moisture Content (By KF) | % | Max 0.2 |
| Miscibility | – | Miscible with methanol. |
| Non-volatile matter | % | Max 0.1 |
REACH status
Acetonitrile offered by ExSyn is registered under EU REACH regulations.
STORAGE
Product is stored at ambient temperature.
PACKING
Drum & ISO-tank
ExSyn offers acetonitrile on commercial scale and welcomes enquiries. No matter the quantity you need, our exceptional quality and service will make ExSyn your supplier of choice! If you need any additional information or SDS, please get in touch with us.
Teprenone (Geranylgeranylacetone, GGA) is a mixture of the all-trans and mono-cis isomers of 6,10,14,18-tetramethyl-5,9,13,17-nonadecatetraen-2-one (in a weight ratio of 3:2). It is an acyclic isoprenoid compound with a structure like retinoids and is widely used for the treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers.
Ciclopirox Olamine (CPO) is the N-oxide of a 2 -hydroxy pyridine derivative that carries antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is composed of 6-cyclohexyl-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(1H)-pyridone combined with 2 aminoethanol (olamine) in a 1:1 ratio.
N,N-Dimethylglycine sodium salt (DMG Na) is the sodium salt form of N,N-dimethylglycine, a tertiary amino acid derivative is white to off white crystalline solid, freely soluble in water.
Blown Castor Oil (15-17 Poise) is a modified grade of Castor oil. The “15-17 Poise” specification refers to its viscosity range, indicating a medium-viscosity blown oil suitable for industrial applications requiring improved body, tackiness, and elasticity compared to regular castor oil.
Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) is a is a tertiary amine that is ethanolamine having two N-methyl substituents. It is clear & colourless to pale yellow liquid with ammoniacal odor. DMAE is stable at room temperature and is completely miscible with water as well as organic solvents such as alcohols and ethers. It decomposes at high temperatures. It is a versatile chemical intermediate primarily used as a curing agent for polyurethane foams and epoxy resins.
1,4,7-Trimethyl-1,4,7-triazonane (Me₃TACN) is a valuable macrocyclic tridentate ligand derived from 1,4,7-triazacyclononane. In Me₃TACN, each nitrogen atom is substituted with a methyl group, which significantly modifies its steric and electronic properties. Me₃TACN is widely used as a ligand in coordination chemistry due to its ability to form stable complexes with transition metals such as Cu, Ni, Fe, Mn, and Zn.
Adenosine is a naturally occurring purine nucleoside composed of adenine and ribose, present in all living cells. It plays a vital role in biochemical processes such as energy transfer (ATP/ADP), signal transduction, and regulation of physiological functions, and is widely used in pharmaceutical applications.
Methyl-2-Methoxy-5-Sulfamoyl Benzoate (MSMB) is a sulfur containing organic building block acting as a chemical intermediate. MSMB contains ester and sulfamoyl functional groups, which make it useful as a pharmaceutical and fine-chemical intermediate.
Imidazolidinyl urea is a widely used antimicrobial preservative in the cosmetic and personal care industry. It is a formaldehyde-releasing compound that effectively inhibits the growth of bacteria, yeast, and molds, thereby extending the shelf life of formulations. Due to its broad-spectrum efficacy and cost-effectiveness, it is commonly used in rinse-off and leave-on products within regulated concentration limits.