Limitrile

Limitrile is not a standard term in chemical nomenclature. In widely referenced sources there is no defined compound or universal class specifically named limitrile. When the word appears, it may refer to a nitrile-containing substance in a local or informal context, a misnomer, or a fictional or teaching example. This article provides a concise overview of nitriles to support interpretation if limitrile is encountered in other materials.

Nitriles are organic compounds that feature the cyano group, -C≡N. The simplest example is acetonitrile (CH3CN). Nitriles can be classified as aliphatic or aromatic depending on their carbon framework. They are generally colorless liquids or solids and are polar due to the nitrile group, with solubility that often decreases as the hydrocarbon portion grows. The nitrile carbon is electrophilic, enabling hydrolysis to carboxylic acids under acidic or basic conditions, and reduction to primary amines. Nitriles participate in various coupling and addition reactions and serve as versatile precursors in synthetic chemistry.

Synthesis of nitriles commonly proceeds via cyanation of alkyl halides or pseudohalides using cyanide sources (for example, NaCN or KCN), dehydration of amides using reagents such as POCl3 or SOCl2, or dehydration of aldoximes to nitriles with dehydrating agents. These routes provide access to primary, secondary, and substituted nitriles used in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials science.

Applications include use as solvents (notably acetonitrile), as precursors to polymers such as polyacrylonitrile, and as versatile intermediates in organic synthesis for building carboxylic acids, amines, ketones, and esters. Safety considerations are important, as many nitriles can be toxic and require appropriate handling, ventilation, and waste disposal.