Aluminium cyanide

Aluminium cyanide is a metallic cyanide with a chemical formula of Al(CN)₃.^[1] It is a white solid that undergoes hydrolysis to produce aluminium hydroxide and hydrogen cyanide.^[2]

Aluminium cyanide

Identifiers
CAS Number	87993-97-3 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	19984794
PubChem CID	21122287
InChI InChI=1S/3CN.Al/c3*1-2;/q3*-1;+3 Key: BIABJQLRIVAXSJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES [C-]#N.[C-]#N.[C-]#N.[Al+3]
Properties
Chemical formula	C3AlN3
Molar mass	105.036 g·mol−1
Appearance	white solid
Solubility in water	Reacts
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Synthesis and properties

Aluminium cyanide was first produced in 1924 as its ammoniate, Al(CN)₃·5NH₃, by reacting aluminium metal and mercury(II) cyanide in liquid ammonia to prevent hydrolysis.^[1]

2 Al + 3 Hg(CN)₂ → 2 Al(CN)₃ + 3 Hg

When the ammoniate contacts water, it produces aluminium hydroxide, ammonia, and ammonium cyanide.^[1]

The compound was produced in 2001 by the reaction of lithium tetrachloroaluminate and trimethylsilyl cyanide in diethyl ether. Its atoms form a lattice, and X-ray crystallography shows that its crystals form an octahedral Prussian-blue-like structure.^[3]