Trimethylsilyl cyanide

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Trimethylsilyl cyanide
Trimethylsilyl-cyanide-skeletal.png
Trimethylsilyl-cyanide-3D-vdW.png
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Trimethylsilanecarbonitrile
Other names
Cyanotrimethylsilane; TMS cyanide; Trimethylsilylnitrile; Trimethylsilylcarbonitrile; Trimethylsilylformonitrile
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
Abbreviations TMSCN
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.028.780 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 231-657-3
  • InChI=1S/C4H9NSi/c1-6(2,3)4-5/h1-3H3 checkY
    Key: LEIMLDGFXIOXMT-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C4H9NSi/c1-6(2,3)4-5/h1-3H3
    Key: LEIMLDGFXIOXMT-UHFFFAOYAM
  • C[Si](C)(C)C#N
Properties
C4H9NSi
Molar mass 99.208 g·mol−1
Density 0.793 g/mL at 20 °C
Melting point 8 to 11 °C (46 to 52 °F; 281 to 284 K)
Boiling point 114 to 117 °C (237 to 243 °F; 387 to 390 K)
hydrolyzes
Solubility organic solvents
1.392
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS02: FlammableGHS06: ToxicGHS09: Environmental hazard
Signal word
 Danger
H225, H300, H310, H330, H410
P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P260, P262, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P284, P301+P310, P302+P350, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P310, P320, P321, P322, P330, P361, P363, P370+P378, P391, P403+P233, P403+P235, P405, P501
Flash point 1 °C (34 °F; 274 K)
Related compounds
Other anions
 Trimethylsilyl chloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
checkY  (what is checkY☒N ?)
Infobox references

Trimethylsilyl cyanide is the chemical compound with the formula (CH3)3SiCN. This volatile liquid consists of a cyanide group, that is CN, attached to a trimethylsilyl group. The molecule is used in organic synthesis as the equivalent of hydrogen cyanide. It is prepared by the reaction of lithium cyanide and trimethylsilyl chloride:[1]

LiCN + (CH3)3SiCl → (CH3)3SiCN + LiCl

Structure[]

The molecule exhibits the expected structure of a nitrile-like compound. The compound exists in a facile equilibrium with a small amount of the isomeric isocyanide (CH3)3SiNC.[2] By contrast, the nearly isostructural tert-butyl nitrile does not readily isomerize to tert-butyl isocyanide.

Reactions[]

Trimethylsilyl cyanide hydrolyzes to give hydrogen cyanide and trimethylsilanol:

(CH3)3SiCN + H2O → (CH3)3SiOH + HCN

In its principal application, it adds across carbon-oxygen double bonds, for example in an aldehyde, to form a new carbon-carbon bond:

RCH=O + (CH3)3SiC≡N → N≡C–CHR–OSi(CH3)3

The product is an O-silylated cyanohydrin.

One use of this reagent is to convert pyridine-N-oxides into 2-cyanopyridine. This transformation is best done in dichloromethane solution using dimethylcarbamoyl chloride as the activating electrophile. It is possible to use benzoyl chloride but the yields and regioselectivity of the addition of the cyano group are lower.

Acetone cyanohydrin can be used to reversibly generate the cyanide anion.[3]

(4)

CNAddScope1.png

Safety[]

This chemical is rated as "Fatal if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled" as it hydrolyzes in the presence of moisture to give hydrogen cyanide gas.

Disposal by using dilute solution of alkali hydroxide is recommended.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ Livinghouse, T. (1990). "Trimethylsilyl Cyanide: Cyanosilation of p-Benzoquinone". Organic Syntheses.; Collective Volume, 7, p. 517
  2. ^ Booth, M. R.; Frankiss, S. G. (1968). "Trimethylsilyl isocyanide". Chem. Commun. (21): 1347–1348. doi:10.1039/C19680001347.
  3. ^ Nazarov, N. ; Zav'yalov, I. J. Gen. Chem. USSR (Engl. Transl.) 1954, 24, 475 [C.A., 49, 6139f (1955)].
  4. ^ MSDS of trimethylsilyl cyanide. (PDF). Gelest. [Jun 13, 2019]
Retrieved from ""