Nitrosyl cyanide

Nitrosyl cyanide, a blue-green gas,^[1] is the compound with the molecular formula ONCN. The compound has been invoked as a product of the oxidation of cyanamide catalyzed by the enzyme glucose oxidase.^[2]

Nitrosyl cyanide

Names
Preferred IUPAC name Nitrous cyanide
Identifiers
CAS Number	4343-68-4
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	109829
PubChem CID	123214
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID00195849
InChI InChI=1S/CN2O/c2-1-3-4 Key: CAMRHYBKQTWSCM-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES C(#N)N=O
Properties[1]
Chemical formula	CN2O
Molar mass	56.024 g·mol−1
Appearance	blue-green gas
Boiling point	−40 °C (−40 °F; 233 K)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Structure, synthesis, reactivity

The structure of nitrosyl cyanide is planar. It is strongly bent at the internal nitrogen, analogous to the structure of nitrosyl chloride. The C-N-O angle is 113°. The NCN angle is 170°.^[1]

The compound can be created by the reaction of nitrosyl chloride and silver cyanide at low temperatures. It is not typically isolated, but trapped by Diels-Alder reactions, e.g. with butadiene. Cycloadditions occur across the N=O bond. It forms a reversible adduct with 9,10-dimethylantracene.^[1]

Related compound

• Nitryl cyanide (O₂NCN), a colorless gas (b.p. 7 °C).^[3]