nitrillit

Nitrillit is the Finnish term for nitriles, a broad class of organic compounds that contain the cyano group (-C≡N) attached to a carbon atom of an organic substituent (R-CN). The cyano group is polar, which gives nitriles distinctive physical and chemical properties. Nitriles are typically colorless liquids or solids and range from simple small molecules to complex aromatic structures.

Nitriles are divided into aliphatic (R is alkyl) and aromatic (R is aryl) varieties. Common examples include acetonitrile (a widely used polar aprotic solvent), benzonitrile, and acrylonitrile (a key monomer for synthetic polymers). The nitrile group endows these compounds with chemical reactivity suitable for transformations such as hydrolysis to carboxylic acids, reduction to amines, and various condensation reactions. Some nitriles, like acetonitrile, are metabolically processed to cyanide in humans, making them acutely toxic; acrylonitrile is considered a potential occupational carcinogen.

Production of nitriles is industrial and utilizes several routes. Major methods include ammoxidation of hydrocarbons (for example, propylene to acrylonitrile) and dehydration or dehydration-condensation processes of amides and related precursors. Their pronounced polarity and solvent properties underpin wide use as specialty solvents, reaction intermediates, and monomers in polymer chemistry, notably in acrylonitrile-based polymers and carbon fiber precursors.

Safety and handling require proper ventilation and protective equipment, as many nitriles are toxic and can pose inhalation or skin hazards. Environmental concerns center on toxicity and persistence, necessitating responsible storage, usage, and disposal.

See also: cyano group, nitrile oxide, acrylonitrile, acetonitrile.