Nitrile

A nitrile is an organic compound containing a carbon triple bonded to nitrogen.

Synthesis

• The Sandmeyer reaction employing cuprous cyanide can be used to form nitriles from diazonium compounds.
• Aryl nitriles may be formed from aryl halides in the Rosenmund-von Braun reaction.

Reactivity

• Nitriles are reduced to imines, then hydrolyzed to the aldehyde in the Stephens aldehyde synthesis.
• Beta-ketoesters are formed from alpha-bromoesters and nitriles in the Blaise reaction.