Glycolonitrile

Glycolonitrile, also called hydroxyacetonitrile or formaldehyde cyanohydrin, is the organic compound with the formula HOCH₂CN and the simplest cyanohydrin. It is a colorless liquid that dissolves in water and ether. Because glycolonitrile decomposes readily into formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide, it is listed as an extremely hazardous substance.

Glycolonitrile

Skeletal formula of glycolonitrile
Ball and stick model of glycolonitrile Spacefill model of glycolonitrile
Names
Preferred IUPAC name Hydroxyacetonitrile
Other names Cyanomethanol[1] Formaldehyde cyanohydrin[1] Glycolic nitrile[1] Hydroxyacetonitrile[1] Hydroxyethylnitrile[citation needed]
Identifiers
CAS Number	107-16-4 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
Beilstein Reference	605328
ChEBI	CHEBI:137685
ChemSpider	7569 N
ECHA InfoCard	100.003.155
EC Number	203-469-1
MeSH	glycolonitrile
PubChem CID	7857
UNII	ZCI474BE63 N
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID3025417
InChI InChI=1S/C2H3NO/c3-1-2-4/h4H,2H2 Y Key: LTYRAPJYLUPLCI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
SMILES OCC#N
Properties
Chemical formula	C2H3NO
Molar mass	57.052 g·mol−1
Appearance	Colourless, oily liquid
Odor	odorless[2]
Density	1.10 g/mL (18.89°C)[2]
Melting point	< −72 °C; −98 °F; 201 K[2]
Boiling point	99.6 °C; 211.2 °F; 372.7 K at 2.3 kPa
Solubility in water	soluble[2]
Vapor pressure	1 mmHg (62.78°C)[2]
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards	forms cyanide in the body[2]
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)	none[2]
REL (Recommended)	C 2 ppm (5 mg/m3) [15-minute][2]
IDLH (Immediate danger)	N.D.[2]
Related compounds
Related alkanenitriles	Hydrogen cyanide Thiocyanic acid Cyanogen iodide Cyanogen bromide Cyanogen chloride Cyanogen fluoride Acetonitrile Aminoacetonitrile Cyanogen Propanenitrile Aminopropionitrile Malononitrile Pivalonitrile Acetone cyanohydrin
Related compounds	DBNPA
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

Synthesis and reactions

Glycolonitrile is produced by combining formaldehyde with hydrogen cyanide at near-neutral pH. The reaction is catalyzed by base.^[3][4] Glycolonitrile polymerizes under alkaline conditions.

Glycolonitrile can react with ammonia to give aminoacetonitrile, which can be hydrolyzed to give glycine. This two-step process is the core industrial production of amino acids known as the Strecker Synthesis:

HOCH₂CN + NH₃ → H₂NCH₂CN + H₂O

H₂NCH₂CN + 2 H₂O → H₂NCH₂CO₂H + NH₃

The industrially important chelating agent EDTA can be prepared from glycolonitrile and ethylenediamine followed by hydrolysis of the resulting tetranitrile. Nitrilotriacetic acid is prepared similarly.^[4]

Reactivity

4-Amino-2-hydroxy-2-hyroxymethyloxazolidine, the trimer of glycolonitrile.

Glycolonitrile rapidly polymerizes near neutral pH. One intermediate in this conversion is the trimer 4-amino-2-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyloxazolidine.^[5]

Glycolonitrile has been recognized as a possible building block of life. ^[6] A key characteristic of this reaction is that the synthesis of all α-amino acids, except for glycine, typically yields a racemic mixture (50:50 mixture of L and D enantiomers).^[7]