1,4-Dicyanobenzene

1,4-Dicyanobenzene is an organic compound with the formula C₆H₄(CN)₂. Two other isomers exist, phthalonitrile and isophthalonitrile. All three isomers are produced commercially by ammoxidation of the corresponding xylene isomers. 1,4-Dicyanobenzene is a colorless or white solid with low solubility in water.^[1] Hydrogenation of isophthalonitrile affords p-xylylenediamine.

1,4-Dicyanobenzene

Names
Preferred IUPAC name Benzene-1,4-dicarbonitrile
Other names Terephthalonitrile; p-Dicyanobenzene
Identifiers
CAS Number	623-26-7
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEMBL	ChEMBL3248224
ChemSpider	11672
ECHA InfoCard	100.009.804
EC Number	210-783-2
PubChem CID	12172
UNII	E6ITH5CIS3
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID1060768
InChI InChI=1S/C8H4N2/c9-5-7-1-2-8(6-10)4-3-7/h1-4H Key: BHXFKXOIODIUJO-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES C1=CC(=CC=C1C#N)C#N
Properties
Chemical formula	C8H4N2
Molar mass	128.134 g·mol−1
Appearance	white solid
Melting point	224–227 °C (435–441 °F; 497–500 K)
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Warning
Hazard statements	H315, H319, H335
Precautionary statements	P261, P264, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P403+P233, P405, P501
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

1,4-dicyanobenzene is electrochemically active, forming a stable persistent radical at anodes.^[2] For this reason, it has been used as a catalyst for automated reaction discovery, testing whether other species are redox active.^[3][4]

Safety

The LD₅₀ (rat, oral) is 6400 mg/kg.