Bromobenzyl cyanide

  • BBC
  • CA
  • Bromphenylacetonitril
  • Bromcyanmethylbenzol
  • Phenylbromcyanmethan
  • (R ) - Bromobenzyl cyanide
  • ( S)- Bromobenzyl cyanide
  • ( RS)- Bromobenzyl cyanide
  • ( ±)- Bromobenzyl cyanide

Yellowish solid

Fixed, prepared industrially often liquid

1.54 g · cm -3

29 ° C

242 ° C

  • Insoluble in water
  • Miscible with ethanol, acetone, diethyl ether and chloroform

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Bromobenzyl cyanide is a very severe eye irritant chemical compound. It was therefore used as a chemical warfare agent.

Chemically Bromobenzyl cyanide a stable connection, it is very resistant to hydrolysis. Pure Bromobenzyl cyanide forms whitish to pale pink crystals, the technical product is a brown, oily liquid. It smells fruity. Because of its low volatility Bromobenzyl cyanide has a long duration of action. The disadvantage is its thermal instability and its Detonationsunbeständigkeit. On heating can occur only in extreme cases cyanide. Bromobenzyl cyanide was used end of the First World War on the American side (CA, BBC ) and from the French side ( Camite ). It is absorbed through the mucous membranes, eyes, or breathing and leads to reddening of the skin, accompanied by itching. Bromobenzyl cyanide is a strong eye irritant, has a concentration of 5 mg / m³ air is unbearable within one minute; the ICt50 (concentration of the chemical warfare agent, which makes combat- disabled 50 % of exposed persons) is 80-90 mg / cubic meter of air in one minute contact time. An immediate flushing of the eye is imperative.

Bromobenzyl cyanide contains a stereocenter, and is therefore chiral. The racemic Bromobenzyl cyanide is a 1:1 mixture of (R ) - Bromobenzyl cyanide and the mirror image ( S)- Bromobenzyl cyanide.

CAS registry number PubChem List of chemical warfare agents
147958
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