Methyl cyanoformate

• A cyclone
• Methyl Cyanoformate (English )
• Methylcyanformiat
• Manders reagent

Slightly yellowish, clear liquid

Liquid

1.07 g · cm -3 ( 25 ° C)

100-101 ° C

Risk

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Cyanameisensäuremethylester (common name: cyclone A) is a pesticide selected from the group of carboxylic esters and nitriles.

History

In March 1919, the German Society for Pest Control ( Degesch ) was founded, whose line had held from 1920 Walter Heerdt. Ferdinand Flury, who was like Heerdt and Bruno Tesch former employee Fritz Haber, developed cyclone A and received in 1920 the patent for it. To date, the use of relatively weak odor and rapidly evaporating hydrogen cyanide was too dangerous. Target were substances whose toxicity was comparable, however, could be ensured by a pungent odor a higher handling safety. First attempts of Flury showed with Cyanameisensäuremethylester that the methyl chloroformate contained in raw cyclone A, a residue from the synthesis, could act as a warning agent.

A cyclone is the precursor of Zyklon B, in which cyanide of porous carrier substances desorbed slowly and controlled.

The production was banned by the Treaty of Versailles in Germany, since it can be used as a chemical warfare agent. The contact with the substance, whether by inhalation, ingestion or absorption through the skin, can cause severe symptoms such as paralysis, dyspnea, edema, cyanosis even lead to death.

Representation

Cyanameisensäuremethylester can by simple reaction of methyl chloroformate and alkali metal cyanides - be prepared - such as potassium cyanide or sodium cyanide.

Use

Cyanameisensäuremethylester today is mainly used as a reagent, for example, for the acylation of enolates. In this context, it is also called Manders reagent, named after the New Zealand chemist Lewis Norman Mander, respectively.