Bromobenzyl cyanide

Bromobenzyl cyanide (BBC), also known in the military idiom as camite (CA), is an obsolete lachrymatory agent^[1] introduced in World War I by the Allied Powers, being a standard agent, along with chloroacetophenone, adopted by the CWS.^[2] When implemented in World War I, it revolutionized the use of tear agents due to its extreme potency and great persistence.^[3] BBC is toxic like chlorine gas.^[4]

Bromobenzyl cyanide

Names
IUPAC name (RS)-2-bromo-2-phenylacetonitrile
Other names α-bromobenzyl cyanide
Identifiers
CAS Number	5798-79-8 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	20715 N
ECHA InfoCard	100.024.863
PubChem CID	22044
UNII	7JP1R2F6C6 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID50871146
InChI InChI=1S/C8H6BrN/c9-8(6-10)7-4-2-1-3-5-7/h1-5,8H N Key: XUHFBOUSHUEAQZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N N InChI=1/C8H6BrN/c9-8(6-10)7-4-2-1-3-5-7/h1-5,8H Key: XUHFBOUSHUEAQZ-UHFFFAOYAJ
SMILES C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(C#N)Br
Properties
Chemical formula	C8H6BrN
Molar mass	196.04 g mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

An application for bromobenzyl cyanide is in Hoch's synthesis of diphenylacetonitrile.^[5]

See also

• Chloroacetophenone
• CR gas
• CS gas
• Lachrymatory agent