Lactonitrile

Lactonitrile
Names
	IUPAC name 2-Hydroxypropanenitrile
	Other names Acetaldehyde cyanohydrin
Identifiers
CAS Number	78-97-7 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChemSpider	21106532;
ECHA InfoCard	100.001.058
PubChem CID	6572;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID6025432 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C3H5NO/c1-3(5)2-4/h3,5H,1H3 Key: WOFDVDFSGLBFAC-UHFFFAOYSA-N; InChI=1/C3H5NO/c1-3(5)2-4/h3,5H,1H3 Key: WOFDVDFSGLBFAC-UHFFFAOYAF;
	SMILES N#CC(C)O;
Properties
Chemical formula	C3H5NO
Molar mass	71.079 g·mol−1
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Lactonitrile is a chemical compound used as a solvent and as an intermediate in the industrial production of ethyl lactate and lactic acid.^[1]^[2] It is the cyanohydrin derived from acetaldehyde.

Synthesis

Lactonitrile is obtained by reacting hydrogen cyanide with acetaldehyde.^[3]

Lactonitrile is used in making esters of lactic acid.

The substance is classified as an extremely hazardous substance in the United States as defined in Section 302 of the U.S. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (42 U.S.C. 11002), and is subject to strict reporting requirements by facilities which produce, store, or use it in significant quantities.^[4]

^ "Lactonitrile". EChA. echa.europa.eu. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
^ Lactonitrile at www.chemicalbook.com.
^ "Definition of lactonitrile". Merriam Webster. merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
^ "40 C.F.R.: Appendix A to Part 355—The List of Extremely Hazardous Substances and Their Threshold Planning Quantities" (PDF) (July 1, 2008 ed.). Government Printing Office. Retrieved October 29, 2011. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)