Pyruvonitrile is a versatile electrophile useful for selective acylation, cyanohydrin synthesis, and cycloaddition reactions.
Pyruvonitrile has a boiling point of 92.3 °C and a density of 0.9745 g/cm3.
Pyruvonitrile was used in the synthesis of cuprate-carbonyl π-complexes by reaction with Me2CuLi in THF.
Preparative Methods of Pyruvonitrile: acyl cyanides are readily prepared from the reaction of acyl halides with Copper(I)
Cyanide, Sodium Cyanide,or Cyanotrimethylsilane and via the oxidation of cyanohydrins.
The infrared spectra of pyruvonitrile was studied.
Pyruvonitrile and its analogs are highly toxic; use in a fume hood.
